AT LEAST 17 erring police officers of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) planted mangrove trees as penalty for accumulated demerits at Punta Silum, Barangay Bonbon on Tuesday, March 14.
Cocpo spokesperson Chief Inspector Mardy Hortillosa said each of the police officers was ordered to plant 30 seedlings of mangrove trees.
These officers committed administrative violations in their service including tardiness, absences or failure to attend sessions and not wearing of proper uniform. One violation is equivalent to one demerit point.
However, only 13 were able to attend and complete the program.
Four officers were not able to come because they are currently in schooling at the Regional Training Center for their mandatory courted order for their eligibility for promotion.
The activity was done in cooperation with City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office and also served as Cocpo's partner in the National Greening program of the government.
"Nag-conduct ta ug tree planting activity ug kini siya sa katong mga nahatagan nato'g delinquency reports. Gipangitaan nato sila ug activities nga mucompensate sa ilang nahimo nga delinquent act kay para at least may mahino pud sila nga productive para mu-compensate sa ilang demerit. (We conducted a tree planting activity for those who were given delinquency reports. We made an activity in which their demerits could be compensated)," Hortillosa said.
Hortillosa explained that these officers were determined through Cocpo's monthly performance report for February this year among its officers wherein 20 demerits a month would compel them to serve delinquency reports to their officers.