Rosales sets Jan. 7 deadline for dismantling 'mayor's squads'

MANILA, Philippines - Metro police chief Director Roberto Rosales set yesterday Jan. 7 as the deadline for his five district directors to dismantle police detachments at city and municipal halls, also known as “mayor’s squads,” in Metro Manila.

Rosales warned there would be no extension and he would not entertain “any political and religious intervention.”

“I’m confident that by Jan. 7, there will be no more police detachments in city and municipal halls in Metro Manila,” he told The STAR.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa called for the abolition of police detachments at city and municipal halls to level the playing field among political candidates in the coming May elections.

Verzosa cited reports that incumbent politicians are using policemen assigned at these police detachments, dubbed mayor’s squads, to raid or harass supporters of their political rivals as well as collect money from criminal gangs.

Rosales said he is only carrying out Verzosa’s directive.

He said police officers at these police detachments should bring along their issued firearms and equipment during their transfer to holding centers of the five Metro Manila police districts.

Rosales warned that after the Jan. 7 deadline, police officers still reporting to the police detachments at city and municipal halls will be “dealt with accordingly.”

He noted that some city governments have renamed the police detachments as “public assistance centers” to get around Verzosa’s order. “We will punish those who ignore Gen. Verzosa’s directive,” Rosales said. – Non Alquitran