‘Performing cops will be rewarded’

In an effort to cleanse it ranks of scalawags, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has adopted a tough stance against abusive cops. However, just as kotong cops are punished, performing policemen are also rewarded to encourage them to continue their exemplary service and inspire others to emulate their dedication to duty.

A total of 21 Manila policemen who have demonstrated bravery and exemplary dedication to duty were given awards yesterday by PNP chief Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay in simple ceremonies at the Quirino Grandstand, which coincided with the celebration of the National Hero’s Day.

Aglipay said police personnel should emulate the bravery and loyalty of the few deserving policemen who have risked their lives to arrest petty thieves during bus and jeepney holdups and anti-drugs and anti-criminality operations.

The deserving cops were given blue and gold lanyards with whistles to symbolize their "outstanding and meritorious" acts.

"The lanyard is the symbol for policemen who made us proud…it is a badge of honor of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). This is to boost the morale of our personnel in line with the PNP’s campaign to regain the trust and confidence of the public," NCRPO chief Director Avelino Razon said.

Razon said the police lanyard will be part of a policeman’s regular blue uniform. "A police officer who has a lanyard can proudly say that he is a good cop. It will remind him of his good deeds. His colleagues can emulate him," Razon said.

According to Razon, the NCRPO’s 15,000-strong police force will also be wearing anti-kotong pins to remind them that receiving and extorting money from the public are illegal.

The PNP chief also approved yesterday the allotment of P2.3 million for the modernization of the NCRPO-Regional Operations Center.

The amount is separate from the P10-million allotment for substinence allowance for police personnel covering the patrol beats. About 16,000 liters of gas were also downloaded from the national headquarters to boost the mobility of policemen.

Razon said the modernization of the NCRPO-ROC would further boost the image of the PNP, particularly in Metro Manila.

He thanked Aglipay for the full support and the release of the budget to acquire new sets of computers, repaint the operations center, procure projectors and make the ROC accessible through the Local Area Network (LAN).

"This can help us more in responding to calls for police assistance…the budget will help us in making the NCRPO-ROC at par with the Central Operations Center of the national headquarters," Razon said.

Razon, who formerly heads the PNP Directorate for Operations, noted that providing the different operations center with the latest technology would better enable the PNP to assess the situation in the field.

Razon also directed all five police districts to install highly-visible signages in police stations, precincts and outposts in Metro Manila.

"Old signs that are no longer functional and presentable must be replaced immediately. Those with already existing signages must ensure that these are clean, well-lighted, and not dilapidated," he said.