Rosales to reassign cops staying in 'mayor's squads'

MANILA, Philippines - Metro police chief Director Roberto Rosales yesterday warned policemen against continuing to man public assistance centers (PACs) at city and municipal halls, saying that doing so would mean they would be reassigned to the provinces.

He said the deadline for dismantling police detachments, dubbed the “mayor’s squads,” in the metropolis is by the end of next week.

Rosales said some cities in Metro Manila had dismantled their police detachments at city halls but replaced them with PACs to get around the order, issued by Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa.

“We will not allow this to happen. All policemen should report to their respective police districts for reassignments to police stations before the deadline next week,” he said.

Verzosa had ordered the dismantling of city and municipal hall police detachments after some politicians claimed that incumbent local officials are using personnel of the police detachments or “mayor’s squad” to harass supporters of their rivals.

They claimed these mayors’ squads are also used by politicians to collect “grease money” from gambling lords, illegal vendors and other illegal activities.

Rosales has directed his five police districts to help and coordinate with local government units to dismantle city and municipal hall detachments.