NCRPO chief sees no problem with Metro mayors

National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco sees no problem with his relationship with Metro Manila mayors, especially on the selection of station commanders.

In the past, local executives and the NCRPO were on an opposing side on the appointments of station commanders in key cities and towns of Metro Manila affecting the delivery of police basic services.

But Velasco is confident that this problem would be a thing of the past. He said his vast experience as director of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) will guide him in dealing with the Metro Manila mayors.

During his first two weeks in office, Velasco paid a courtesy call on Chairman Bayani Fernando, of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Mayors Lito Atienza and Feliciano Belmonte Jr., of Manila and Quezon City, respectively.

The three government officials pledged their total support for the police drive against criminality.

Fernando promised to help provide help in the police visibility aspect by fielding more MMDA personnel in all chokepoints in Metro Manila for them to easily spot stolen vehicles.

Belmonte, for his part, will donate an additional 53 mobile vehicles and radio units to help police in the fight against criminality.

According to Velasco, he will continue paying courtesy calls to the remaining Metro Manila mayors in the coming days.

When pressed whether the selection of station commanders could pose a problem on his relationship with the Metro Manila mayors, Velasco just shrugged his shoulders. "There’s no problem on the appointment of station commanders because I will be bringing along the best and the brightest. I will only plead to them to give my choices three months," said Velasco.

The appointment of station commanders must have the go signal from the mayors concerned while the district directors are appointed by the office of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.

Earlier, Velasco gave district directors and station commanders for having failing grades in their drive against criminality during the first six months of the year until September to shape up or face relief.

According to Velasco, once his appointed station commanders fail to deliver within a three month period, he will immediately relieve them from their post. But Velasco boasted he has a 100 percent batting average in the appointment of station commanders while still serving the ARMM and the PRO1. "After three months, it is the mayors themselves who asked me not to relieve the newly designated station commanders because they were doing very well," he said.