"Moscow scandal" not affecting Cebu police

CEBU - Despite the scandal rocking the hierarchy of the higher Philippine National Police, the public still trusts the police here in Cebu City.

Cebu City Police Office director Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said people are still reporting their complaints to the police.

“Admittedly, there is a low morale to have people have some negative thoughts about us, but we go on since we are empowered to manage things in our local area,” Comendador said.

Compared to other city police stations, Comendador said all organic CCPO personnel are issued firearms, even the Field Training Program personnel.

In fact, he said that they are moving on their own initiative with the implementation of necessary programs in the maintenance of peace and order.

He said the local police entrusts everything to the ongoing investigation.

“We just hope that the leadership will be able to substantially explain everything,” Comendador said.

Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos was also reported to have remained unaffected and functioning normally since the scandal involving PNP comptroller Eliseo de la Paz in Russia.

But in Metro Manila, some junior policemen are allegedly dismayed over the said scandal. According to a radio report, many younger police officers said they were disappointed why the PNP entrusted nearly P7 million to a retiring officer.

The report stated that the policemen, with ranks of PO1 to PO3, questioned why the PNP hierarchy had Dela Paz bring such an amount without declaring it at the airport.

Dela Paz and his wife were held at the Moscow airport last Saturday after airport authorities found the big amount of money. He was was part of a PNP contingent to the International Police Organization meeting in Russia.

Also part of the group was former PRO-7 director Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio. — Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP (THE FREEMAN)