Monday, May 12, 2008 Keep away from cockpits, cops told
TOP police officials are asking the public to help them in their campaign to keep policemen away from cockpits by taking photos and sending it to them.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ronald Roderos said that with the directive from Camp Crame, all police officers who are caught inside cockpits can be charged administratively.
Roderos said the memorandum referred not only to illegal cockfights such as tigbakay, but also to legal cockfighting arenas.
He added that they are barred from betting even if they are off duty.
Reminded
“Police personnel are once again reminded that they are off-limits to cockpit arenas and other areas where cockfighting is being held. This is part of our commitment to uplift the image of Mamang Pulis as God-fearing, humane, presentable, approachable and dependable,” a directive from the Directorate for Operations in Camp Crame read.
The directive was dated March 5.
Roderos said officers can be in cockpit arenas only if they have mission orders signed by their chiefs of police authorizing them to be there for the conduct of surveillance operations.
Bodyguards
Asked about police officers serving as bodyguards for politicians, Roderos said this is one thing that was not clearly explained.
However, he said police officers who could justify their presence in a cockpit could escape administrative sanctions.
Roderos said that with today’s technology, the public could easily substantiate complaints against police officers who entered cockpits by taking photos or videos using their camera phones.
He also urged would-be complainants to take several photos to make the evidence clear and to include the date and time.
“When we have clear evidence, we will act on it,” he assured. (MEA)
