Failure to curb criminality: More police chiefs to get axe after IEC

CEBU, Philippines - Another 10 police station chiefs will be relieved after the International Eucharistic Congress ends Sunday after they “failed” to show progress in their campaign against all forms of criminalities.

They would follow 10 other police officials who were not able to comply with the Oplan Limpyo Probinsya program.

 “I’m not joking with them. We mean business,” said Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Clifford Gairanod.

He said he would carefully evaluate the accomplishments of all station commanders, warning that they would be relieved even during the election period if they slack off.

The newly-assumed CPPO director said that aside from being relieved, police chiefs would also find themselves facing appropriate administrative charges.

“Ilabay diri ilabay didto wa lang gihapoy nabuhat,” he said, adding that he would coordinate with Provincial Election Officer Lionel Marco Castillano and with Police Regional Office-7 Director Manuel Gaerlan.

Gairanod said that after his initial evaluation he found out that at least 10 police station chiefs are either already over two years in their posts or that they failed to do their work.

He said he would notify the respective mayors of the town or city where the said police officials are assigned on his decision to remove them from their posts.

“Basin mahiubos sila na-relieve ilang hepe,” he said on why he would first communicate with the mayors.

On the other hand, following the arrest of two brothers who were allegedly drug den operators and alleged drug pushers, his office is now investigating San Fernando Police Station to identify the two suspects’ alleged police protector.

In a police briefing, Gairanod vowed to “weed out those cops” who are involved in the illegal trade, especially illegal drugs.

He admitted, though, that it would be like searching for a needle in the middle of a haystack because no one was named in the alleged report.

“Mas maayo panganlan para harap-harapan….  Mas maayo imbestigahan,” Gairanod said.

Meanwhile, guards at the Medellin District Jail arrested a 15-year-old teenager after he yielded small packs of suspected shabu around 2 p.m. yesterday.

Senior Jail Officer 3 Ma. Roselle Escaño, officer-in-charge of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-7 community relations service office, said the boy was visiting his mother and father, who were in jail for a drug offense, when he was subjected to an inspection.

Diligence of the jail guards paid off after they found the packs of suspected shabu taped to his genitals.

“Automatic sir, ang duty (jail guard) nitawag og PNP (police) unya ni-contact og barangay officials, media, DSWD (social workers),” Escaño said. 

She said the boy is currently under the custody of the town police. — (FREEMAN)