Local cop chiefs warned on kidnapping incidents

National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) Director Edgar Aglipay, in a visit to Northern Manila police stations yesterday, issued a stern warning to chiefs of police (COPs) to shape up or ship out in the campaign against kidnapping.

Police sources said Aglipay, in a district command conference, verbally threatened to sack anyone of the metropolis’ police chiefs if they so much as encounter and fail to solve two kidnappings in their areas of responsibility. The sources, who asked not to be identified, said the NCRPO chief’s policy, although not official ("not written in black and white"), was made to keep the police chiefs’ noses close to the ground to deter kidnappings in their respective areas.

Aglipay made the threat after he visited police stations in the CAMANAVA (Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela) area. He was met by Northern Police District Office (NPDO) director Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol and CAMANAVA police chiefs Senior Superintendent Oscar Paginado (officer-in-charge, Valenzuela), Superintendent Benjardi Mantele (Caloocan), Superintendent Ernesto Fojas Jr. (Malabon) and Superintendent Roberto Villanueva (Navotas).

Aglipay was quoted by sources that he really "meant business," vowing to sack any police chief in Metro Manila if two kidnap incidents take place in their jurisdiction.

"(Aglipay’s order), although a little menacing for our chiefs, would do good in the long run because with their positions and reputation at stake, they cannot allow crimes like this to occur in their turf," said a junior police officer.

The CAMANAVA police chiefs, however, would neither deny nor confirm the verbal order but said if the NCRPO chief would want it that way, they have no choice but to abide by what their superiors order them to do.

Valenzuela has lately become a favorite venue of kidnappers. During the last two months alone, at least three kidnap cases were reported in Valenzuela. Although denied by top officials, the kidnappings led to the sacking of long-time police chief Superintendent Nemesio Neron. He was replaced by Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Urena, who a few weeks after, was replaced by Paginado. – Jerry Botial