Velasco to police chiefs: Be prepared for GMA’s unannounced visits

"Stay awake and always be on your toes."

This was the advice of Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco to station and precinct commanders for them not to be caught offguard of Arroyo’s unannounced visits.

Velasco warned that police officials should be on alert, ready with their briefing materials and prepare for inspections should Arroyo appear on their station unannounced.

"You should be prepared for inspections everyday. Your officers must be in proper uniform always, be courteous in dealing with the public and be ready to respond to any call for help," Velasco told a gathering of police officials during a recent command conference.

Since the Chief Executive presided over a meeting with top police officials in Metro Manila in Malacañang Palace on Feb. 22, Arroyo had inspected the police stations in Moriones, Tondo, and a police precinct each in Caloocan City and Pasay City.

In Pasay City, Chief Inspector Simon Gonzales, the precinct commander in the Police Community Precinct 4 (PCP4) located at the second floor of the city’s public market along Libertad St. kept the President waiting for 10 minutes which resulted to his relief.

Gonzales’ superior officer, Senior Superintendent Oscar Catalan, the Pasay City police chief, escaped the axe after presenting doctors’ medical certificates certifying he was being treated in a hospital during the President ’s visit.

Velasco warned station and precinct commanders that they would follow Gonzales’ fate should they fail to follow instructions or implement reforms as called for by his office.

He said that aside from the President’s visit, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will also conduct a separate performance audit of the station and precinct commanders. "We don’t select the time to conduct inspections. We want to catch those commanders who are sleeping on their jobs," Velasco stressed.

He added that while he was quick to reward and acknowledge police officials who are performing their tasks above par, he will not hesitate to crack the whip against low performers. – Non Alquitran