THE region’s new top cop urged the three former politicians tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as “narco-politicians” to surrender.
Chief Superintendent Agripino Javier, who replaced Chief Superintendent Noel Constantino as Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao chief, said he will launch an investigation to substantiate President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncements concerning the former politicians included in the supposed drug list.
“Pag sinabi ng presidente may basihan siya, bilang commander-in-chief ang mga pronouncement niya (If the president said he has proof, as the commander-in-chief his pronouncement) will serve as our guide in our future action,” Javier said.
“Maganda sumorender na lang sila (Its better if they just surrender),” he added.
Javier also vowed to continue the Philippine National Police’s unrelenting war on drugs in the region.
He said he will do everything to make the PRO stay loyal to Duterte and to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald dela Rosa.
He made the statements during Tuesday’s, December 20, turn over ceremonies at Camp Vicente Alagar.
Javier, the former regional police director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, replaced Constantino who has been promoted as the director of the Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR) in Camp Crame.
“The anti-drug campaign will be intensified including the maintenance of peace and order and mababang (the decrease in) criminality,” Javier said.
Javier told the men of PRO he will not tolerate anybody, police or politician, to engage in any activity that will undermine the present administration.
He emphasized he will adopt the strategies, system and policies implemented by Constantino in the operation and administrative functions.
“Walang babaguhin (There will be no changes) but whatever strategy let me state my personal principles,” he said.
The new PRO chief said reshuffling and revamp of policemen across the region will only take place if necessary.
“Kung kailangan kong mag-reshuffle I will start evaluating sa kanila pero so far ok naman maganda naman performance ng PRO-10 siguro di na kailangang magpalit (If I need to reshuffle, I will start evaluating them but so far the performance of PRO-Northern Mindanao is ok and perhaps there is no change needed),” he added.
Javier said he will look at the assignment of the 16 policemen from Albuera Leyte including Police Chief Jovie Espenido who was transferred in Northern Mindanao.
“Meron kasi assignment na may specific instruction from Crame kung wala, ako ang mag-assign (There is an assignment with a specific instruction from Crame and if there is none, I will be the one to assign),” Javier said.
He also said he will continue the system and the policies imposed by Constantino.