For ‘internal cleansing’: New PRO-7 director warns ill-behaved cops

CEBU, Philippines – Aside from intensified operations, the newly-installed director of the Police Regional Office-7 wants to promote “internal cleansing” among police personnel in Central Visayas with the aim for a better and more efficient police force.

Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, the new PRO-7 director, said this is part of the long-term transformation program for the personnel of the Philippine National Police which could contribute a great effect to the community.

“Kahit kami ay mag-conduct nang mag-conduct ng different operations, if our personnel would not improve on their performance and discipline, all of these accomplishments would be negated by some of the inactions of even very little undisciplined or corrupt police officers,” said Gaerlan.

He said this serves as a warning to all policemen in Central Visayas to shape up, further warning that he can really pin down those disobedient and ill-behaved policemen.

“Before I became a chief of police and provincial director in two provinces in Luzon, I was an intelligence officer so I know what I am doing. I can monitor them, I know how to track down their activities, so they’d better watch out,” he said.

He made example the issue on policemen allegedly accepting money from illegal drug personalities in exchange for protecting these suspects from law enforcers.

Gaerlan further stressed that as it has been known to many, illegal drugs is one of the most prevalent problems in the community and police officers should not engage themselves in this illegal activity.

“I don’t tolerate anybody protecting or dipping his hands in drug money. Pag sinabi nating credible, dapat our performance speaks of our credibility sa public,” he said.

On the other hand, the regional director is hoping for a better performance from policemen as he recently announced that the PNP is expecting an increase in the basic salary starting January 2016.

He said Camp Crame, under the supervision of Police Director General Ricardo Marquez, the PNP chief, is now coordinating with the Congress to have policemen’s salary increased.

Gaerlan said he hopes this will serve as a motivation to all the police personnel to do well in their job and to not accept money coming from illegal activities.

“So there’s no need to dip your hands in drug money or any other illegal business,” he said.

In line with this goal for a better Central Visayas, Gaerlan said, the PRO-7 and the Regional Advisory Council for Police Transformation and Development-7 launched a project called “We Connect and Your Voice Counts” involving the community in the campaign against any form of illegal activities and criminalities.

The project’s objective is to draw the community’s involvement by establishing linkages through police hotlines where they can give comments, suggestions, opinions and report crimes for immediate police actions.

Hotline numbers of the different police offices and units in the region are posted outside Camp Sergio Osmeña for the public to directly express their concerns and report incidents. —/NSA (FREEMAN)