Cop control to LGUs bucked

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza opposed yesterday the clamor of Metro Manila mayors to transfer the authority and control over the police to local government unit (LGU) officials.

"We are confronted with organized crime groups, even international criminals, and definitely the answer to this is not localizing the police," he said.

Mendoza questioned the call of the Metro Manila mayors to localize police services when "almost all sectors (are opting) to globalize."

"Why should we localize the services of the PNP? We have to centralize the equipment and operational strategies. This is the call of the times and localizing will not help the PNP rid the country of organized crime groups," he said.

Morever, Mendoza explained, any move to transfer police control to the local government units will violate the Constitution.

Mendoza noted that under the law, the PNP should be "national in scope and civilian in character."

"That is clear under the Constitution," he said.

Mayors have been calling for the return of police control to local government units, saying the local officials receive the flak everytime policemen fail to solve the peace and order problems in their respective localities.

Tagaytay City Mayor and newly-elected League of City Mayors President Francis Tolentino has called on the House of Representatives to pass a law authorizing local chief executives to have direct supervision and control over the police.

Pasay City Mayor Peewee Trinidad said that the threat of peace and order, has reached an alarming level. This, the mayor added, is because of dismal police action against the proliferation of illegal drugs, dangerous vices, banditry and other menacing crimes of organized groups.

The mayors also appealed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to support the city mayors’ call, saying that her help could become a stepping-stone towards achieving better peace and order in every community in the country.