Monday, August 06, 2007 Police tightens rules as cops face ‘sharks’
HOPING to discourage police officers from borrowing money for flimsy reasons, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Carmelo Valmoria has ordered all finance officers to make sure salary checks are released only to the police officers concerned.
“There are instances when we need money, like for enrolment or other important events. What I do not like is when they borrow money for minor reasons,” Valmoria explained.
He said some officers immediately borrow money to spend on gambling and other vices because it’s easy for them to sell their checks to loan sharks.
To make sure the loan shark is paid, the checks are immediately sent to them while a percentage is given to the police officer every payday.
He noted “a few” of the police officers no longer received their salary for as long as six months because it all goes to loan sharks.
“To minimize this practice, let them receive their checks and pay the person they borrowed money from. They also have the obligation to pay their debts,” he told reporters.
Valmoria said a police officer can be held liable administratively if he or she does not pay his debts.
He believes policemen who are knee-deep in debt cannot perform their duties well, as they will not feel compensated for their hard work if they do not receive their salaries each pay day.
He fears police officers will be vulnerable to corruption because they no longer have money to spend.
He said loan sharks will also be wary of the police officers they lend money to if they are not sure they will be paid promptly.
“It is just my way of minimizing this practice. We cannot eliminate it kay naa man gyud na’y mangutang. The bottom line is it will not become a habit for police officers to always borrow money,” Valmoria told reporters.
He is saddened that some police officers have not seen their paychecks for a long time.
“Asa na ang love of your work kun dili na nimo makita ang imong tseke?” he pointed out. (MEA)
