(UPDATED) - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde slammed on Tuesday, April 23, a Metro Manila mayor for withdrawing support for the local police force.
Albayalde declined to identify the mayor, but said he was being "childish". The mayor allegedly withdrew support for the police when the PNP failed to ask him for his opinion on the appointment of a new city police chief.
“As I have said sa eastern police here in Metro Manila, we really don't know why. It's probably election kaya ganun and of course I could not mention the name just for sensitivity because it's election time pero dito s’ya sa Metro Manila and I was just surprised bakit ganun. Dahil tinanggal ‘yung chief of police ginawa nating chief of staff, umangat then naglagay tayo ng officer-in-charge. Nagalit na pati ‘yung mga hotlines ng pulis pinagtatanggal in the whole city,” he said.
(He apparently felt slighted when we appointed his police chief as chief of staff and we assigned an officer-in-charge to his city. Even the police hotlines were removed.)
“This is all part of our crime prevention and crime solution efforts. So as a mayor bakit mo tatanggalin yun. So I think that is very unprofessional, that is very childish of him,” Albayalde added.
The said mayor also took the police’s ticket for city ordinances violators and gas allowance for city patrol cars.
Albayalde said the PNP through the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will seek the assistance of the Department of Interior and Local Government to compel the mayor to explain his actions and directives.
NCRPO Director Guillermo Eleazar said Albayalde was referring to Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro.
Teodoro, however, denied withdrawing support to the Marikina PNP.
“First and foremost, the chief PNP will do well to exercise due diligence in verifying the facts before making any statement to the media. I, as city mayor, have not withheld support from the PNP Marikina, and shall continue to be its primary advocate as peace and order remains a priority of my administration,” Teodoro said in a text message.
“It should be reminded that we, the city, have given more to the PNP Marikina in terms of logistics, and have even made plans for PNP building. So to say that we have withdrawn support is far-fetched,” he added.
Teodoro said the PNP should also be “mindful” of the Republic Act 7160 and the DILG Act (Republic Act 6975) which mandate the PNP to notify the mayor on the appointment of police chief in their area as he has operational supervision and control of PNP units within his jurisdiction.
He said he has met with the Marikina PNP officer-in-charge Police Colonel Red Maranan to discuss plans and programs in order to maintain peace and order in their city.
“And at the time of the designation of officer-in-charge Red Maranan, that supervision and control was in effect. It is a matter of courtesy and respect and observance of the law that I should at least be notified,” he said.
”I have no qualms in facing any inquiry on this matter, as I am confident that all I have done is in accordance with law. Which I cannot say the same for the PNP, which I must caution, should look into their processes in the designation and transfer of OIC’s, especially with the strict requirements of the law in that regard, and the election ban in effect,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)