Cop says planting crops not part of police duties

A policeman complained over the new directive of Cebu Provincial Police Office director Carmelo Valmoria to assign the personnel of the Provincial Security Group to barangay Campoot in Tuburan town to plant crops.

SPO1 Orusito Flordeliz, 55, one of the ten policemen relieved from the Cebu City Police Office and ordered transferred to the CPPO, yesterday said it is improper for a policeman to be tasked to plant crops since the work of a policeman is to maintain peace and order and go after criminals.  Only personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should be made to plant crops and not the police.

He said that with his age now he can no longer climb and walk down mountain slopes and because of this he is worried that he might be sent to Campoot.

Flordeliz has no serious case against him although he has been accused of going absent without leave on three occasions during his 25 years of service in the PNP.

However, Valmoria said yesterday that planting crops may also be part of police duties as the PNP has its "green revolution program" wherein the policemen are made to plant trees.

Valmoria instead advised Flordeliz to apply for a "Complete Disability Discharge" so that he can avail of an early retirement because it would be unfair for him to continue receiving salary from the government even if he can no longer perform his job well.

Valmoria also made it clear yesterday that he will not assign Flordeliz to Campoot but one of the “high-risk” municipalities in the Northern part of Cebu. 

Last week, CPPO announced that they have created an extension of the PSG which they called as the Admin Holding Center.  This will be where policemen facing investigation for criminal or administrative charges will be assigned.

Last Monday five policemen were already sent to the PNP detachment in said place which is under the command of Insp. Samuel Vercede.  – Flor Z. Perolina/BRP