Monday, August 27, 2007 CV top cops support changes in PNP Law
TOP officials from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 supported the call of National Police Commission (Napolcom) 7 Director Bernardo Calibo to amend a provision in the PNP Law that bars a police officer from being promoted if he or she has a pending case.
“It should have been done a long time ago,” Supt. Melvin Gayotin, deputy director for Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, said in an interview with reporters.
Gayotin said he is glad with Calibo’s move to request Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st district) to work on amending Republic Act 8551.
Gayotin said police officers who are charged of an offense in the line of duty are greatly affected by the law.
Not only do they spend their own money for a legal counsel, the police officers are also demoralized. He said they are now hesitant to do their job for fear of being charged in court.
Citing himself as an example, Gayotin said his promotion to the rank of senior superintendent is overdue.
He said he was supposed to be promoted two years ago, but because of an administrative complaint filed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas, his promotion has been delayed.
If the law is amended, the cases filed against police officers can expedited especially those that are only meant to harass them.
“Maabtan ta og retirement og hulat (We will reach retirement age waiting),” he said.
Welcome
PRO 7 Director Silverio Alarcio Jr., in a separate interview, said it is a welcome development because a lot of personnel have been affected by the law.
“Because they are doing their job, they get charged and they cannot be promoted. Ombudsman pa lang, fiscal pa lang, wala pa sa court, di ka na ma-promote (And that hasn’t reached court level yet),” he said.
But he said police officers who are facing complaints for negligence or misdemeanor should get clearances from their superiors before applying for promotion.
Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador, in an earlier interview, was also happy to learn about Calibo’s move.
“I think it is a good move for Napolcom because (the law) discourages personnel from performing better, knowing they will not be promoted,” he said.
Like Gayotin, Comendador’s application to be promoted to his present position was delayed because of a work-related case filed against him before the anti-graft body.
By the time it was dismissed, the board deliberating on promotions had already decided on his case and he was not included in the list. (JST)
