Verzosa to submit roadmap for PNP change to Noynoy

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa will submit to president-apparent Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III the roadmap for PNP transformation 2016 that intends to make the police a highly capable, effective and credible law enforcement unit by 2030.

Verzosa said the PNP transformation 2016 roadmap contains the 15 strategic initiatives that address the objectives of the PNP Integrated Transformation Program-Performance Governance System (ITG-PGS).

“The roadmap reflects the desire of the incoming administration to institu-tionalize reform in the country,” Verzosa said. “The PNP transformation 2016 is a portion of our journey to a transformed PNP by 2030.”

Verzosa reiterated that he plans to submit his courtesy resignation to Aquino after the new president takes his oath of office on June 30.

“By June 30, after the new president is sworn into office, I will tender my courtesy resignation to give the new president a free hand and a fresh start to choose the next chief PNP,” said Verzosa.

He announced his plan yesterday morning during the regular flag raising ceremony at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City. A thanksgiving Mass was offered before the flag ceremony for the peaceful and orderly conduct of elections last May 10.

President Arroyo appointed Verzosa as PNP chief in September 2008 and he is set to retire on Dec. 25, 2010. However, the PNP chief has no fixed term and he serves at the pleasure of the president.

Asked if he would stay on as PNP chief if the incoming president orders him to do so, Verzosa said: “It’s not a problem for me.”

Verzosa said his courtesy resignation would highlight the importance of placing the interest of the institution above any individual interest.

He said the strategy includes sustaining the development of trans-formational leaders at all levels and the full implementation of the model police station project nationwide.

The capability enhancement program — pursue legislative agenda to strengthen the institution, sustain transformation advocacy with the stakeholders and the five pillars of the criminal justice system — as well as sustaining the implementation of the morale and welfare program, should be fully implemented, he added.

He said that there is also a need for institutionalization of the PNP program management office at all levels, strengthen the training service and sustain the implementation of the integrated quad operations to address the threats of terrorism, insurgency and criminality.

Verzosa said the PNP should also promote rights-based policing, integrate operation and administrative data bases or data warehousing. He said the police force must also institutionalize reform policies on human resource management including promotion, placement, and recruitment.

“We have laid down the foundation for continuing implementation of our transformation program but more things need to be done and we need to do them better,” he said.

Verzosa also thanked the 130,000 members of the police force, the private sector, and the media for helping the police ensure the recent peaceful and orderly elections.