Disgruntled PNP official can complain before DILG, Napolcom

President Arroyo advised yesterday Philippine National Police (PNP) officials affected by the ongoing revamp against "displaying their tantrums in public" and file their complaint in a proper forum.

"The President prefers that normal process be observed since there are government agencies where the (affected) police officers can seek redress," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

Bunye said the dissatisfied police officers could formally file their complaint before the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

Senior police officers affected by the revamp have complained about their supposedly being victims of politics in the police force.

Bunye advised the police officials to seek the assistance of the DILG and the Napolcom if they thought the reshuffle was unfair.

Last Friday, Mrs. Arroyo ordered police officials affected by the revamp against publicly airing their objections against PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.

"There are mechanisms to resolve these grievances under rules of due process," she said.

The President issued the statement a day after announcing that a major reorganization of the PNP will take place to bolster the government’s renewed campaign against crime.

Mrs. Arroyo said the reorganization is expected to "reinvigorate the public’s regard for the PNP by weeding out the scalawags in uniform, particularly those involved in heinous crimes."

Mrs. Arroyo said the reshuffle is also intended to neutralize reports that some policemen are involved in criminal activities.

The President upheld the major reshuffle implemented by Ebdane, saying it is part of reforms needed in her administration’s ongoing campaign against crime.

Some police officials affected by the revamp reportedly complained, saying their transfers were unfair.

Some others called on Mrs. Arroyo to declare "all positions vacant" to erase all doubts that the recent revamp was politically tainted.

The affected police officials claimed the revamp does not erase doubts on the legal aspect and motive behind the move.

Among the senior officers who initially questioned the revamp were former National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco and Director Eduardo Matillano, erstwhile chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Velasco has been transferred to head the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime, an agency outside the PNP.

Matillano was named chief of the Directorate for Intelligence and Detection Management (DIDM).

Matillano earlier said he would question the legality of the reshuffle before the courts.

The erstwhile CIDG chief earlier called for Ebdane’s resignation, saying it may be time to change the one at the top.

An angry Ebdane shot back and sacked Matillano and reminded other police officials that they cannot question his decision to revamp the PNP.