Napolcom memo stirs PNP officers

Officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) expressed alarm at the alleged attempts by the vice chairman of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to usurp the authority of the chief of the PNP on matters of personnel movement in the force.

The PNP officials, who preferred not to be identified, said the Napolcom has no business intruding into areas of responsibility expressly provided by law to be within the jurisdiction of their chief.

The PNP personnel were reacting to a memorandum by Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Pureza directing the PNP to hold in abeyance an order reassigning the PNP chief for Finance Services.

The controversial Pureza memorandum said that while he recognizes the urgency of reorganizing the PNP, he questioned the reassignment of Chief Superintendent Ruperlito Tan Andanar, claiming that the order was "haphazard and not in conformity with good management."

Camp Crame insiders said the memorandum has created a strong stir in police ranks as it exposes the ignorance of a top official of Napolcom of the law that governs both agencies.

They said Pureza should be reminded that the chief of the PNP has the authority to "direct, control tactical as well strategic movements, deployments, placement, utilization of the PNP and any of its units and personnel…"

"We are asking Commissioner Pureza to read Section 26 of RA 6975 or the New Police Act of 1998," they challenged, even as they charged that Napolcom was bending too much to accommodate a "friend."

They asked Department of the Interior and Local Governments Secretary Jose Lina, also Napolcom chairman, to censure Pureza, claiming that interference coming from one’s lack of knowledge of the law is a big embarrassment to both the PNP and Napolcom.

In a suggestion to the DILG chief, they asked that Napolcom officials take a proficiency test on the law that governs the PNP, claiming that maybe it is time to re-educate its top officials.