Serve, protect and never keep GMA waiting

This police inspector should have been a boy scout. If he had been just a little more prepared, he would have kept his job.

Pasay City Police Community Precinct 4 commander Chief Inspector Simon Gonzales was relieved from his post the other night after making President Arroyo wait during her surprise visit to his station.

Gonzales, who was really caught by surprise, had to hurriedly change into his uniform inside his office when the President arrived.

That was more than enough to earn the ire of Mrs. Arroyo, who took off after 10 minutes of waiting.

"He (Gonzales) must have been quite nervous of the President’s presence," said Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco, who had ordered his relief. "But he was already a chief inspector... if he can’t handle a situation like that, he has no reason to stay longer in his post."

Gonzales, a product of the Philippine National Police Academy, is the first casualty from among the police ranks in the intensified campaign against street crimes as ordered by the President.

As part of the campaign, Mrs. Arroyo has been making surprise visits to various police stations and precincts. She had previously visited Station 2 of the Western Police District in Moriones, Tondo and a PCP in Caloocan City. The two police stations ranked first and second, respectively, as having the most number of recorded street crimes in Metro Manila.

After the President’s visit, the two stations conducted a series of operations against street crimes, earning praise from Velasco.

The Metro police chief said President Arroyo was supposed to visit the police stations of the Central Police District (CPD) last Wednesday, including the Cubao police station.

However, the Chief Executive decided to head south after being informed by the advance party of the Presidential Security Group that the CPD hierarchy was fully prepared for her visit.

Velasco said Mrs. Arroyo and her convoy arrived at PCP 4, located on the second floor of the Pasay City public market along Libertad street, at about 6:10 p.m.

Gonzales, who was reported to be in civilian clothes, rushed to his office to change. Sources said the President may have thought he was "sleeping on the job."

Southern Police District director Chief Superintendent Jose Gutierrez Sr. said Gonzales should have met with the President immediately, even if he had been in civilian clothes.

Gutierrez said Gonzales has been replaced by former SWAT team leader Senior Inspector Benjamin Oamil. – With Marvin Sy