The Cebu Provincial Police Office has assured that all its personnel are well-accounted for, belying reports that some policemen are no longer in the service yet continue to receive salary.
CPPO Director Carmelo Valmoria said the PNP and even the National Police Commission constantly make a headcount of all policemen, thus, those personnel who may have prolonged absences due to illness or may have gone out of the country for vacation or even for another job have already been removed from the roster of personnel.
Valmoria said that when a policeman goes abroad, a special permission is given by the Department of Interior and Local Government.
“Even if one is on schooling, an authority is still to be asked from the higher office,” Valmoria said, emphasizing that any policeman who violates protocol faces appropriate sanction.
Valmoria cited an ongoing administrative adjudication against a policeman who reportedly failed to obtain authority when he left his job. Also included in the case is his immediate head or commanding officer because there reportedly is a big possibility of connivance between the two.
Reports recently surfaced that there is quite a number of policemen who are already working abroad yet continue to receive their salaries here. There are even instances when it is the chief of police or group director himself who receives the salary and gives half of the amount to the personnel’s family.
Valmoria emphasized that the immediate heads of those policemen who already bedridden are obliged to have their cases reported to the Regional Human Resource Development Division for appropriate action such as the filing of permanent disability. — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO