“WE WILL remain apolitical.”
This was stressed by Brigadier General Flynn Dongbo as he assumed post on Wednesday, November 10, as the new director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in Western Visayas.
He replaced Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, who is set to retire on November 16.
“We will not allow ourselves to be used by anyone or any (political) group,” Dongbo said, adding that “we will abide by our mandate to ensure and protect the will of the electorate for peaceful elections.”
Dongbo admitted that he will be assuming as the director of PRO-Western Visayas at a crucial period because of the upcoming elections and the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Aside from staying apolitical, he also ordered the provincial and city police office directors in the region to take responsibility for the acts of their personnel, especially those who are involved in criminal activities and corrupt practices.
Dongbo added that policemen should maintain their integrity and remind themselves that their uniform is a sacred symbol of their profession that they must uphold decency.
The new police regional director stressed that effective leadership and management must be practiced among the police heads and that if there are problems, they need to look for solutions within their bounds and authorities.
Other programs that Dongbo wishes to continue are personnel capacity building and career enhancement programs for equal opportunities for all police personnel in the region, non-politics and patronage-based recruitment and promotion, and a boost in community empowerment and linkages, among others.
Dongbo was the former director and deputy director of Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group and the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, respectively, before he was appointed PRO-Western Visayas director.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar told Dongbo to continue the reforms executed by Miranda that made PRO-Western Visayas successful.
Eleazar said Dongbo is not new to the region because he had served as the director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) in 2016.
The top PNP official said PRO-Western Visayas is in good hands with Dongbo, whom he said demonstrated his leadership skills contributing to the cleansing program of the organization.
Meanwhile, Eleazar thanked Miranda for his three-decade service and wished him luck as he takes on his journey into civilian life.
For his part, Miranda thanked the policemen in Western Visayas for their cooperation and support during his leadership as he encouraged them to do the same with his successor.