Another revamp at PNP looms

Several provincial and town police officials are expected to be affected by another revamp the Philippine National Police is planning to implement in the next few days, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Joel Goltiao said yesterday.

Goltiao said higher officials are now evaluating the performance of police officials in the implementation of the government’s anti-illegal gambling campaign and several key police officials in the provincial and municipal levels will be affected.

The impending revamp will be implemented with barely five months to go before the May 10 general elections.

Goltiao said PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. will decide who will be affected in the nationwide revamp.

He said a list of officials will be drawn and submitted to the PNP Senior Officers, Promotions and Placements Board (SOPPB) for approval.

"There are a number of officers who will be replaced in the provincial and municipal levels, even chiefs of police, before the elections," Goltiao said.

He explained that all members of the PNP directorial staff and regional directors are required to attend a command conference at Camp Crame today during which Ebdane will take up the revamp.

Meanwhile, Goltiao announced the PNP will be joining the Armed Forces of the Philippines in offensive operations against communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels once the unilateral ceasefire ends tomorrow.

Goltiao said the PNP will play its role in implementing internal security operations as part of the government’s anti-insurgency campaign which will resume after the lifting of the Christmas ceasefire.

He said the PNP will provide support for the AFP and ensure that no violations of the existing agreement in the peace process being initiated by the government with the rebels.

"Ho holds barred. We will be resuming our international security operations against the NPA," Goltiao said.

The military, on the other hand, said they are implementing security measures to protect political candidates against harassment from the NPA while campaigning in the countryside.

"We want candidates to campaign freely, and prevent the NPA from its mulcting activities," AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero said.

The NPA has been denounced for imposing "revolutionary taxes" from politicians who wish to campaign in rebel-infested areas.

The campaign fees ranges from P50,000 to P500,000, depending on the elective position sought by the candidate.

Gubernatorial candidates are asked to pay P500,000; congressional candidates from P300,000 to P500,000, while for city or town mayor, the candidate must pay P50,000 to P300,000 as payment for their "permit to campaign" in areas declared by the NPA as communities under their control.

The rebels also settle for four to eight M-16 rifles in lieu of the "cash donations."