PNP tells pols to let them manage cops

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- The Philippine National Police leadership has asked politicians to give them a free hand in managing their own men, in the midst of a three-week impasse in the Cordillera over the relief of Baguio City police director Sr. Supt. Jesus Cambay.

Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Isagani Nerez said persons who lobbied for positions in the police organization have been “begged” by Director General Alan Purisima to allow them  to “shape up their men” or “ship them out”  if the latter are not performing.

Political leaders here were recently “shaken” when former city director Cambay was relieved by Nerez owing to poor handling of crimes in the city.

Nerez who held a dialogue with city officials on Monday cited the city’s crime figure -  29 incidents in February and 22  in January.

Cambay was replaced by Sr. Supt. Rolando Garcia, who Nerez vouched for being hard-working, in an officer-in-charge capacity.  Garcia vows he will do his best to bring changes in Baguio’s crime situation.

The Cordillera police director admitted to city officials Cambay’s relief was purely an “administrative prerogative”.

Even Baguio congressman Nicasio Aliping who sought an audience with Purisima in a bid to retain Cambay as city police director was reportedly “begged” to give the police organization a free hand on the disposition of policemen.

There was nothing personal in the firing and hiring of policemen, especially those natives in the Cordillera, Nerez insisted ealier, even police directors in Kalinga and Ifugao were relieved because of their performance.

But the shake-up, which Nerez believes is actually a mechanism for “shaping up” the police organization, ends this month as performers in the field citing Abra police director Benjamin Lusad, a Cordilleran, will remain to head the Abra command.  - Artemio A. Dumlao