Ping marks first 365 days in office

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Panfilo Lacson celebrates his 365th day in office today amid festering political and economic crises rocking the administration of his long-time supporter and ally, President Estrada.

Lacson, the country’s seventh PNP chief and member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1971, will deliver his first-year report to the 113,000-strong police organization during this morning’s flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said an awarding ceremony for the top performing police units will highlight today’s festivities, which include a parade and review.

Bartolome said Lacson’s report will detail the PNP’s accomplishments against criminality and corrupt policemen as well as improvements in the area of administration.

Lacson will also reiterate the police organization’s mandate to abide by the constitutional process and pledge loyalty to the duly constituted authority in the face of the current turmoil, Bartolome said.

Lacson’s first year in office has been highlighted by an intensified campaign against scalawags in uniform, a "no-take" policy in anti-illegal gambling operations, an accounting of all confiscated vehicles and a rigorous and mandatory fitness program to reduce waistlines of officers to 34 inches.

"If the PNP cannot cleanse itself of its derelicts, it has no business cleansing society of its criminal dregs," Lacson said during his first few days in office.

Before he became the country’s top policeman, Lacson headed the Task Force Habagat of the controversial Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC), under then Vice President Estrada. As President, Mr. Estrada later replaced the commission with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF).

During his PACC days, Lacson and other police officers were implicated in the Kuratong Baleleng "rubout" of 11 suspected members of the bank robbery gang in May 1995 but were later acquitted by the Quezon City court.

Prior to this, Lacson was assigned to the Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group, the Philippine Constabulary’s Anti-Carnapping Task Force, the Isabela Police Office, Cebu Metrodiscom and Laguna Police Office.

Lacson is a recipient of numerous awards and distinctions, including the PMA Alumni Association Cavalier Award, five Bronze Cross medals and 17 military merit awards.

Bartolome said the awardees in today’s ceremony include the Directorate for Comptrollership, Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development, Civil Security Group, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Headquarters Support Service, National Capital Region Police Office, the regional offices for Cagayan Valley, Southern Tagalog and Eastern Visayas, and the PAOCTF.