CEBU, Philippines - Five policemen including two officials have been relieved from their posts for violating a policy on the proper wearing of uniforms and command responsibility.
Police Regional Office-7 director Marcelo Garbo Jr. ordered the relief of Police Officer 2 Walter Quirol, PO2 Marlon Perolina and PO1 Andrew Boncales after he personally saw them not in proper police uniform in violation of the “Tamang Bihis” policy of the Philippine National Police.
Their immediate superiors, Sr. Inspector Michael Angelo Beltran and Insp. Wilson Abot, were likewise axed because of command responsibility.
Quirol, previously assigned at the Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC), was transferred to Siquijor Provincial Police Office. He was personally seen by Garbo not in proper uniform on October 24.
Boncales, who was assigned in Opao Police Station under Abot, was also caught not in appropriate uniform. He was transferred to Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office while Abot was reassigned from Mandaue to Bogo City.
Perolina on the other hand was caught last Sunday not wearing his field cap. From Talamban Police Station he was also transferred to Negros Oriental while his commander, Beltran, was reassigned to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.
“I’m very hard on tamang bihis, this is an opportunity for the police to show who we are– ang tamang pagsuot nang aming uniporme. I now require that all police men on duty patrol must be wearing their head gear,” Garbo said.
The proper wearing of uniform was one of the very first directives issued by Garbo after he assumed office over a month ago.
“I want decorum and deportment, clean and proper dapat sila because people are watching them,” he said.
Garbo said, as officers of the law, they must be seen as good example for the public, adding that as PRO-7 director he has set himself as an “example” for his men to emulate.
“I’m changing the mind set of the police,” he said.
The director said he will continue to inspect each police station throughout the region in order to make a clear stand on his campaign on “tamang bihis.”
Garbo vowed to himself to make PRO-7 as the best regional office in the county.
His vision for the region, according to him, is also part of the marching order of the new PNP chief to uplift the image of the police. – (FREEMAN)