Noy: Cops can’t choose, refuse assignments

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino commended 38 police officers but rebuked a police official who questioned his new assignment during awarding ceremonies held yesterday at Camp Crame, Quezon City to recognize police personnel for their exemplary service.

In a speech he delivered at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame on the occasion of “Araw ng Parangal sa Kapulisan,” the President warned police officers and made it clear that PNP officials have no right to choose, much less refuse, assignments.

“Ulitin ko lang, dito sa napakaingay na opisyal na ito, sabihin na nating magaling siya, siyempre, ang tanong doon: maasahan ba (The official is quite noisy and he may be good, but is he reliable)?” he asked, in obvious reference to Senior Superintendent Conrado Capa, the former head of Task Force Tugis that was responsible for the arrest of fugitive real estate magnate Delfin Lee last month.

Capa was relieved as task force head one week after Lee’s arrest and he initially protested his new assignment as deputy regional director for operations in Cebu.

The police officer aired his frustrations to the media last month and complained that PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima did not even congratulate him and worse, transferred him to Region 7 in Cebu.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte revealed earlier that the PNP leadership was preparing a surprise party cum congratulatory ceremony for Capa, but it was cancelled after the controversy over Capa’s new assignment broke out, as she insisted the move was actually a promotion.

Aquino minced no words in showing his disappointment over Capa.

“At tila ang sagot na pangkaraniwan doon ay maaasahan natin siya kung natutuwa siya. E kung hindi siya natutuwa hindi na natin maaasahan, iyun ba ang professional (The common answer is that he can be relied on if he’s satisfied, but if he’s not satisfied can he still be relied on, is that being professional)?” he asked sarcastically.

“Lately, we have had an issue of a person who refused to take a new assignment,” he related. “Matanong ko lang kayo, puwede ba tayong mamili ng assignment? Isama ko na ang sarili ko, puwede ba akong mamili ng problema (I ask you, can we choose our assignment? Including myself, can I choose problems)?”

“This person, unfortunately, was not getting a bad position. At sabihin na nating nagpakita siya ng gilas (Let’s say he showed his skill), he should be rewarded and acknowledged,” Aquino said, without naming the PNP official but obviously referring to Capa.

“But at the same time what entered my mind is: Okay ito ah, goes out on media, says this and that, keeps quiet for a while, then goes back on a media tour – and I really think that’s a disservice,” he stressed.

“Pinahamak niya iyung institution na sa pagkatagal-tagal ng buhay niya ay pinaglingkuran niya (He besmirched the institution he has served for so long),” said Aquino, who cited the brave policewomen who engaged robbers in a shootout at a mall and the Tacloban policewoman who left her family to do her duty.

But Capa, who eventually accepted his position as Western Visayas deputy regional director for operations based in Cebu, refused to comment on the speech of the President.

Capa initially resisted his transfer to Cebu, saying that he could not be promoted to chief superintendent or one-star general in his new assignment.

Under the law, the President approves the promotion of police officers from the rank of senior superintendent (full colonel) and higher, chief superintendent (one-star general), director (two-star general), deputy director general (three-star general) and director general (four-star general).

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II also assured the police officers that he is looking into the grievances of Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) graduates that they remain “second class citizens” compared to graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) with regard to promotions in the police force.

“I’m looking into it and have asked for the data,” said Roxas. The data will be submitted next week.

In a position letter, concerned alumni of the PNPA lamented that 325 remaining PMAers occupied all the juicy positions in the PNP while very few of the 3,636 PNPA graduates are assigned to positions “considered to be not in the mainstream of the PNP.”

The concerned PNPA alumni called on Roxas to help “level the playing field” in the PNP.

Awardees

President Aquino, assisted by Roxas and PNP chief Purisima, conferred the awards on 38 police officers during the Araw ng Parangal Sa Kapulisan that was organized to commend police officers for their exemplary service during the Zamboanga City siege, Bohol earthquake and Super Typhoon Yolanda, among others.

Purisima said the event proved that the PNP will never run out of heroes.

“This once more shows that the PNP is never bereft of heroes who will gallantly serve and protect our countrymen against all odds, even at the risk of their own lives,” he added.

The awardees include Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas, PNP deputy chief for administration; PNP Region 9 director Chief Superintendent Juanito Vaño and NCRPO chief Director Carmelo Valmoria, then Special Action Force (SAF) head for their role in the Zamboanga City siege last September.

The SAF members, who were commended for their part in the Zamboanga crisis, include Chief Inspector Reynald Arino, Senior Inspectors Marlon Urbanozo and Jones Aspilan, PO3 Ismael Hussin, PO3 Alfredo Guinaat Jr., PO2 Jimskristine Bagioeng, SPO1 Isidro Martus and PO3 Gilbert de Leon.

Also commended were Superintendent William Gadayan, Inspector Juliuzar Asdani, Senior Inspector Ryean Lhoyd Bato, Inspector Jivertson Pelovello, Senior Inspector Rey Tolosa, PO2 Edgardo Gamutin, PO1 Ebba Baguinda, and SPO1 Jonathan Nodado.

Aquino also awarded Senior Inspector Jacinto Mandal Jr. for his effort during the Bohol earthquake that resulted in the recovery of 35 cadavers and rescue of a woman trapped inside her house.

Seven police officers were commended for their effort during the rescue operations after Super Typhoon Yolanda in Region 8.

They are: Senior Superintendent Teodoro Basa, SPO1 Rodrigo Redona Jr., PO3 Jomacsigel Delute, PO3 Gilbert Lopera, civilian personnel Noli de la Cruz, Inspector Marjorie Manuta, PO3 Rommel Basinang.

Manuta, the only policewoman in the list of awardees, said she did her job as police officer without expecting anything in return.

“What I did was help those affected by Yolanda, my tiredness disappeared and I felt good doing my duty as police,” she said in Filipino.

The President recalled how Manuta handled the briefing about the effect of Yolanda. She reported for duty after walking five to six kilometers and took the initiative to make the city police office functional.

She assisted people looking for missing loved ones after the typhoon struck the area.

Also commended were Capa’s men in Task Force Tugis who were cited for the arrest of Lee. They are Chief Inspector Rafael Lero, SPO1 Dante Cabalquinto and PO2 Eugene Amoyo.

Another awardee was rookie policeman PO1 Roel Armecin, who single-handedly engaged at least 15 communist rebels that resulted in the killing of one and injuring another during the attack at the T’boli community police assistance center in South Cotabato.

Commended for anti-insurgency operations were Senior Inspector Renato Uy, PO1 Sherwin Cadungog and PO1 Nelbert Legazpi.

Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa was awarded for the arrest of Malaysian terrorist Mohd Noor Fikrie Binabd Hahar and his wife Annabel Nieva Lee in Davao City.

Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia, SPO4 Lito Pirote and PO3 Lawrence Perida were commended for the arrest of Albert Chin and five other drug dealers and the seizure of 433.235 kilos of shabu in Zambales. With Cecille Suerte Felipe