Bacalzo says he's leaving a better PNP

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo, who retires on Friday, has expressed confidence that he would be leaving a better police force with well-trained police officers.

Bacalzo yesterday described as “hyper” his 359 days as PNP chief and pointed out that he was fortunate not to have been implicated in any controversy.

He said the alleged anomalous purchase of helicopters and patrol boats happened during the time of his predecessor.

The irregularities, however, would allow the PNP to curb corruption in the police force.

In the absence of critical issues, Bacalzo said he was able to implement programs to improve the welfare of the 140,000 policemen nationwide to ensure they are disciplined and capable police officers.

The PNP chief said through the Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management (DIDM), the PNP upgraded the standard in recruitment and implemented more training in criminal investigation.

He said the PNP had released the Christmas bonuses of policemen and implemented salary increases in June, or a month earlier than other government agencies because the police had enough savings.

Bacalzo said when he assumed office last year, about 74 percent of police officers had no formal training in criminal investigation. At present, about 31 percent of the investigators completed the training.

“Now only 43 percent of the investigators need training,” he said. “Hopefully by next year, it would be 100 percent to make our police investigators effective and efficient in investigating cases that could lead to crime solution.”

Bacalzo said during his one-year in office, about 400 policemen were dismissed, 1,200 suspended and 400 demoted due to various offenses.

He added expeditious resolution of cases would protect policemen from further harassment by unscrupulous individuals who are merely getting back at the police officers who arrested them.

Bacalzo said the quick resolution of cases against policemen would also serve as warning to erring police officers that their wrongdoings would not be tolerated and they have no place in the PNP.

Meanwhile, Bacalzo celebrated yesterday his 56th birthday together with 300 children, mostly cancer-stricken patients, in three different institutions.

Bacalzo’s actual birthday is on Sept. 15 but he decided to hold an early celebration at the National Children’s Hospital (NCH), the Child House halfway home for cancer patients, and Kiddie Club in Camp Crame, Quezon City where he distributed gifts and stuffed toys to young cancer patients.

The PNP chief said children with cancer are close to his heart since he and his wife lost their youngest child – one of a pair of identical twins – to cancer in 1999.

Bacalzo and his wife Librada, a registered nurse here and in the US, led the gift giving activities to the children in the three institutions.

The couple said they experienced the same pain when one of their twins, then six years old, was diagnosed with leukemia. The illness had complications, which needed bone marrow transplant.

“I was an ordinary police colonel at that time, where would I get money to support his medication? So, I tried my luck by writing to a US-based foundation and fortunately, the foundation shouldered some of the medical expenses,” recalled Bacalzo.

He said they went to the US and were forced to stay in a halfway home for cancer patients because they had no money for an apartment. Their child died in 1999 at the age of 10, while his twin is now a registered nurse in the US.

“This is our way of sharing our blessings,” said Bacalzo, who along with his wife and other PNP officials reached out to the children.

Daydee Castillo, a staff at the Child House, said the presence of good Samaritans, who were generously giving gifts, were a priceless experience for the children with health problems.

The Child House used to be located beside the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in Quezon City but was shut down after the PCSO office was transferred to Pasay City.

At the NCH, two-year old Annaliza de los Santos with brain sepsis was one of the recipients of gift bags, which included alcohol, cotton, tissues, towels, vitamins, baby powder and soaps.

Like other patients, De los Santos also received a stuffed toy.

“Children with cancer have to go through medical treatment, including injections and we believe they can find comfort holding on to their stuff toys,” Bacalzo’s wife said.