37 Metro cop chiefs warned: Shape up or face relief

"Shape up or face relief."

This warning was aired by Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Edgar Galvante to 37 station commanders in the metropolis performing below par in the campaign against criminality and vice.

Observers noted that the public’s high confidence in the police during the term of Chief Superintendent Edgar Aglipay is on the decline and an alarmed Galvante wanted the station commanders to do their utmost to end the skid.

Aglipay was promoted to head of the directorate for operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame. He was replaced by Deputy Director General Romeo Peña, who, two week’s ago swapped positions with Galvante, the former PNP deputy director for operations.

"Those station commanders whose jurisdictions recorded a rampant rise in criminal activities will be the first to be sacked," said Galvante in a telephone interview.

Chief Superintendent Rowland Albano, deputy chief for administration of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) has already submitted to Galvante the list of station commanders in Metro Manila who have been performing poorly for the past few months.

According to Albano, Galvante is coordinating with higher PNP officials in Camp Crame regarding the relief of station commanders who are found remiss in their duties.

If his recommendation would be followed to the letter, Albano, also the head of the Senior Officers Placement and Promotions Board (SOPPB), said at least 13 station commanders would be affected by the revamp, to be implemented as soon as possible.

Albano said the criteria for the rating system for station commanders include cases of bank robbery, kidnap-for-ransom, robbery-holdup, petty crimes like cellphone snatching, "jueteng" and illegal drugs and the implementation of the police beat and detective beat systems.

Also considered are police officials who have stayed for two years or longer in their posts and those who are not graduates of the Officer’s Senior Executive Course (OSEC). – Non Alquitran