DIRECTOR General Oscar Albayalde, chief of Philippine National Police (PNP) reminded policemen to be humble and courteous at all times.
Albayalde was welcomed by a team led by Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), during his visit to Bacolod City on Sunday, May 20.
Albayalde said policemen should serve the people with respect, without fear or favor, despite their status in life, adding that police officers should treat complainants fairly and properly.
“We treat all of them equal and we enforce the law without taking sides,” he said, adding that he is hoping he will not receive any complaints about misbehavior from the province.
“We do not have to fight with them because we have to be courteous,” Albayalde told policemen when dealing with “arrogant” complainants.
"Let humility be a virtue,” he said, as he urged everyone to work as a team.
“We have the guns and we wear the uniform, the more that we should be humble,” Albayalde told the men and women of Nocppo at the headquarters yesterday, May 20.
"These are very small things and yet, we cannot do it,” Albayalde said, as he urged them to act as law enforcers and men in uniform as they should be.
“Magtrabaho tayo ng maayos. (Let us work well),” he added, as he warned them that it will be the first and last time that he will be talking about it that way.
Albayalde said he would want to see his men being promoted and given medals for their accomplishments in their line of duty and not meet them for their suspension or dismissal from the service.
“It would also hurt me if I make decisions out of your wrongdoings because you also have families,” Albayalde said, adding that it is something that he doesn’t want to happen.
Albayalde said that if a police chief or immediate supervisor failed to discipline his personnel on the ground, there is no reason for him to stay longer in the position.
He said policemen who do not know anything about courtesy do not deserve their uniform because they do not know how to serve the people.
“I will put the full responsibility to the commander and I will not hesitate to remove or suspend him from the service if I receive complaints about the misbehavior of his personnel,” he also said.
Albayalde urged the commanders on the ground to help them toe the line.
He said policemen on the ground are considered ambassadors of "peace and change" because the public always sees them on the streets and other areas of convergence.
“We provide peace and security in the community so it is proper if we show the public courtesy,” he added.
“The best Police Community Relations (PCR) is to give our people peace and order," Albayalde said, adding that they should erase the fear from people against criminalities.
In the middle of his talk, a non-commissioned officer collapsed probably due to the scorching heat and was brought to a hospital.
Meanwhile, Albayalde said that if a policeman has a complaint on anyone in the organization or is not satisfied with the rules in the organization, he or she should directly address it to the grievance committee.
“Do not post it on social media because that is very cowardly. My office is open to everybody," Albayalde said.
“If you are not okay with the rules and regulations in the organization, you can always resign because nobody even forced you to enter the service and become a policeman,” Albayalde said.
On erring policemen, Albayalde said that they will do everything to remove all “scalawags” in uniform that destroys the image of the organization.
He added they are currently validating reports about policemen allegedly involved in illegal activities, particularly illegal drugs.
“This is part of our internal cleansing. We just have to identify who they are to remove them from the ranks,” Albayalde said, adding that these erring police officers supposedly have no reason to commit such offense because of their high compensation.
“People want policemen who are reliable and professional in their service because we are not here for public display only. We are expendable,” he said.
Albayalde said, “we all have human rights, but there are also restrictions that we need to follow.”
“We do not confuse democracy with abuse especially that we are in the uniformed service,” he added.
After talking with the police officers, Albayalde met the officials in a command conference, where Chief Superintendent Cesar Binag, regional director of Police Regional Office (PRO) in Western Visayas presented the accomplishments in the region for the first quarter of the year.
He then left and proceeded to Talisay City for the groundbreaking rites of a housing project for military and policemen at Barangay Dos Hermanas where President Rodrigo Duterte also attended.
(Visit)
Albayalde visited the four wounded policemen at a private hospital in Bacolod City before he went to Nocppo headquarters.
Albayalde commended and pinned “Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting” (PNP Wounded Personnel Medal) to Police Officer 3 Reynaldo Bauden Jr., Police Officer 2 Rolando Algje Prieto, Senior Police Officer 2 Bryan Tabor, and Police Officer 1 Gary Norico, all personnel of Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (NOCPMFC).
He also talked with the other members of NOCPMFC who engaged in a shootout with 12 armed men when members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Western Visayas raided the house of Rodel Taquiso and Salem Teodolo for violation of Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act on May 17.