|
Friday, April 29, 2005
La Trinidad dad to Abra cops: Prove you're not inept
By Jane Cadalig
BAGUIO -- "Prove you are not inept," La Trinidad Councilor Dionisio Literato Thursday challenged some 18 Abra policemen who were transferred to the municipality, upon orders of Interior and Local Government Secretary and concurrent National Police Commission (Napolcom) chairman Angelo Reyes.
Reyes earlier directed National Police chief Arturo Lomibao to replace the entire Abra police force reportedly because of their "ineffectiveness" in maintaining Abra's peace and order.
But Literato said, "We do not believe that they are inept, and this will be the challenge to them. They have to prove to us that this report is wrong."
He added that the La Trinidad officialdom is banking on these uniformed police personnel to be its partner in instituting additional reforms and in maintaining the peace and order situation in the locality.
"We also informed them that they are lucky to be here and belong to one of the finest police offices in the country, aside from the fact that they will not be dictated (upon) by politicians here. They will not be required to be our bodyguards," Literato said.
La Trinidad police chief Gideon Todiano was already asked to update the newly-assigned police officers on the town's existing ordinances.
"This would serve as guide in making apprehensions. We also suggested that they be given brochures about the municipality for them to know the profile of La Trinidad," added Literato.
Earlier, members of the Benguet Provincial Board (PB) asked Reyes to reconsider the swapping of Abra and Benguet police personnel.
This, as Board Member Marciano Inso expressed disgust over the transfer of some Abra policemen to Benguet. "We do not want to have a police force that is inept."
But the PB, in a resolution introduced by Board Member William Esteban, claimed the move was not in consonance with the law since it did not undergo consultation with the local government units (LGUs).
"In consideration of Republic Act 8851 that was invoked concerning the local executive's operational control and supervision over the police, consultations with the LGU of Benguet as to the move to re-assign some of its police personnel from the province as part of the police units to replace the entire police force of the Abra, were not conducted," the resolution said.
It added the transfer of the BPPO personnel would also affect the performance of the provincial police. "The move to replace the entire police force of Abra will cause the transfer of some of the best police personnel in Benguet. This would affect the performance of the province's police force that recently bagged the Best Provincial Police Office award for 2004."
(April 29, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
