68 newly promoted cops protest reassignment

MANILA, Philippines - Sixty-eight newly promoted police inspectors are protesting their transfer to other parts of Metro Manila.

The order, which took effect Feb. 17, was meant to train, develop and harness the supervisory potentials of the new police commissioned officers, according to National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Roberto Rosales.

The Manila Police District accounts for the highest number of transferees with 25, followed by the Southern Police District with 18, the Northern Police District with 10, and the Quezon City Police District and the Eastern Police District with seven and two, respectively. The remaining six came from the NCRPO.

The affected officials said they will be ineffective in their new assignments due to unfamiliarity with the area.

“How can we effectively render our services to the community when we do not even know the streets in our new assignments,” said an official who requested anonymity.

Those who are disputing their reassignments said they rose from the ranks and their recent promotion only put them in jeopardy since they will be compelled to render service in an “unfamiliar terrain.”

Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel, the NCRPO’s acting Chief Regional Directorial Staff, said these officials should be professional enough to explore new surroundings. “They are reassigned only in Metro Manila and there is no reason for them not to be familiar with their new places of assignments,” Laurel said.

He said their new environment will help them learn new techniques and become better police supervisors. The NCRPO has observed that a promoted officer does not receive the respect of his peers within his present command due to familiarity and “pare-pare” habit.

“Now if he is reassigned to other districts, surely his rank will deserve a better respect from members of his new command,” Laurel explained.

Laurel said the reassignments were approved by the Commission on Elections.   – Nestor Etolle