THE relief of 20 policemen from the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has an effect on the strength of personnel in the city police force.
Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, public information officer of BCPO, said it is somehow a loss on the total strength of the city headquarters but they respect the decision of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas.
Vargas said they are hoping that the regional headquarters will provide them new personnel who will replace the 20 police officers who were relieved due to their alleged involvement in illegal activities.
A non-uniform personnel (NUP) was also relieved due to the same offense.
At present, BCPO has 620 personnel.
Despite the development, Vargas assured the public that the city police force will continue to do its duties and responsibilities to serve and protect the people of Bacolod.
For now, they will maximize the remaining personnel, Vargas said.
On June 6, Superintendent Joem Malong, public information officer of PRO-Western Visayas, told SunStar Bacolod that one commissioned officer and 19 non-commissioned officers were transferred to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) in Iloilo City. However, she refused to identify them while the investigation is ongoing.
The action of the regional headquarters was anchored on the intensified internal cleansing program of policemen in Western Visayas.
In a press release Thursday, June 7, Vargas said the relief of the personnel is part of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) so that the investigation conducted against them will not be influenced.
The Philippine National Police does not tolerate personnel who still continue their rogue actions in spite of continuous reminders, the press release said.
BCPO is appealing for the support of the public to give timely information about the illegal activities and abuses of their personnel.
In 2016, more than 40 policemen in Negros Island were transferred to Luzon and Mindanao due to their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.