MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday called on police officials to respect the major revamp in the Philippine National Police amid reports of grumbling by some ranking PNP officials.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the move of PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa to reshuffle police officials had the blessing of President Duterte and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.
“Therefore, we urge all officials of the Philippine National Police to support the restructuring or reshuffling which was implemented by the OIC of the Philippine National Police, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa,” Malaya said at a press briefing.
He said they issued the statement after they received questions on whether Gamboa, as officer-in-charge, is authorized to move key personnel in the police organization.
“There were just inquiries from some people,” he said without elaborating.
Following the controversies which hounded former PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, Malaya said what the PNP needs is a “healing” leader.
“We need someone who will be able to redirect the organization to its original intent and mandate,” he said.
Albayalde recently stepped down from his post following allegations that he protected “ninja cops” or police officers who sold the illegal drugs seized during an operation in Mexico, Pampanga in 2013. Albayalde was then provincial director of the Pampanga police.
The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) filed last Monday criminal charges against Albayalde in connection with the missing P648-million shabu seized by alleged ninja cops who then sold the drugs seized during an operation in Pampanga in 2013.
CIDG officials submitted an amended complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors wherein aside from the 13 original policemen tagged as ninja cops, they also included Albayalde who opted to go on terminal leave last Oct. 14 prior to his retirement from the service on Nov. 8.
The reshuffle of PNP officials last Sunday affected 21 ranking positions.
A police official who was present during the command conference confirmed some had misgivings about the revamp.
“Some of the officials felt bad about it as they were performing well,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said over the phone.
The source added another purpose of the revamp was to ease out officials perceived to have close ties with Albayalde.
Among these officials are Director Amador Corpus, who headed the CIDG and was transferred to the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development, and Brig. Gen. Edward Carranza, the former police director of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas Rizal and Quezon) region, who was appointed chief of the Logistics Support Service.
“Those were demotions,” the source said.
The source added other police officials who were once police regional directors also had misgivings after they were transferred to other posts.
Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee and justice and human rights committee, who headed the probe on the ninja cops, vowed to continue monitoring the performance of the PNP and involvement of policemen in illegal activities.
“I can assure you, the Senate is going to watch with eagle eyes and see whether this thing will stop,” Gordon said.
Gordon commended President Duterte for instituting the reorganization in the PNP after the Senate investigations exposed the scheme involving the 13 ninja cops.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo confirmed Duterte’s disappointment over the connection of ninja cops to illegal drug activities and said the President laments that some members of the PNP still committed wrongdoing although he already doubled their salaries.
PNP OIC Gamboa announced that all officials of the PNP are placed on three-month probation starting Oct. 21, including those who hold key positions such as regional directors and chief of directorates. The statement came following a massive reshuffling that redeployed at least 20 generals and two colonels.
Gamboa also gave orders to be implemented immediately, namely: no golf during weekdays, no presence in gambling joints, casinos, cockpits and public drinking places; no take from gambling and drug groups, no use of confiscated vehicles; and no use of private vehicles without plate numbers. — With Cecille Suerte Felipe