P’sinan police chiefs told: Leave politics to politicians

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Leave politics to politicians.

This was the first order yesterday of Senior Superintendent Manolito Labador, the new officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan police, during a meeting with the police chiefs of 44 towns and four cities in the province.

“Our concern is peace and order. Do not meddle with the affairs of politicians,” he said.

Labador said the main problems besetting the province are crimes committed by guns-for-hire and motorcycle-riding men. 

“If you want to give half-hearted service, like reporting you conduct checkpoints when in fact you do not, you are fooling yourself,” he told the police chiefs.

He said as junior police officers, “you are building your reputation and it will serve as your reference in your future attempt for higher positions.”

“If you leave a bad image, that is your own lookout,” he added.

Labador said he would go around the different police stations to know their peculiar problems and how he could help them.

He advised the police officials to secure politicians and the public by letting them feel they are safe and not fear while roaming around the province.

Labador replaced Senior Superintendent Mariano Luis Verzosa who was sacked a week after Bugallon town Mayor Rodrigo Orduña, a self-confessed jueteng operator, accused Gov. Amado Espino Jr. of receiving P900 million in payola from the illegal numbers game.

Following the exposé and filing of a plunder complaint against Espino before the Office of the Ombudsman, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas ordered a reshuffle of police chiefs in Pangasinan.

Espino has denied the allegations, saying these were politically motivated and an “old issue.”

Espino has tapped the services of a pool of lawyers to defend him against the allegations.