PNP chief to inaugurate P2-M NPDO building

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao will inaugurate tomorrow the P2-million Northern Police District Office (NPDO) building, his last infrastructure project before he bows out of the police service Wednesday.

"A day before he bows out of the service, General Lomibao is set to inaugurate his last infrastructure project under his ‘PNP Building Stronger Police Stations’ nationwide program here at the NPDO," Bataoil told The STAR.

Bataoil said the PNP chief has chosen the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area as one of the beneficiaries of his project since the area is home to hundreds of thousands of marginalized individuals.

"We have several squatter communities in Camanava which can be considered a probable breeding ground of criminals," Bataoil said.

The NPD director said that the three-story building would house the District Intelligence and Investigation Division (DIID) office, under Superintendent Jimili Macaraeg, the office of Deputy Director for Operations (DDO) Senior Superintendent Constanti "Junboy" Azares, and the office of the Deputy Director for Administration (DDA) Senior Superintendent Virgilio Espija.

"The PNP chief would like to end his term with a significant gesture and a message that here in Camanava, his dreams of quality police service shall never die," Bataoil said.

The NPD chief, however, said that with the new offices, he is expecting his police officials to work even harder and not just stay inside their air-conditioned rooms.

"I’m encouraging them not to stay inside their air-conditioned offices. They must be in the field always where they are most needed," he said.

Lomibao is set to step down as PNP chief on Wednesday as he celebrates his 56th birthday, the retirement age in the police organization.

Asked who should be the most likely successor to Lomibao, Bataoil simply said: "Whoever the President names as the next PNP chief, the NPD officers and men will give full support to him."– Pete Laude