NCRPO okays pullout of new recruits

The National Capital Regional Police Office has agreed to pull out its 920 new recruits in response to the complaint of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) about the hiring procedures.

Napolcom personnel and administration chief Bernardo Calibo said that NCRPO Director Edgardo Aglipay personally called him up to signify his compliance with the commission’s order to submit the list of new recruits for review before deployment.

The 920 new policemen who have already been assigned to patrol the malls and business establishments as part of the campaign to increase police visibility during the Christmas season, would be temporarily pulled out pending the Napolcom’s review. This comes after the Napolcom issued a memorandum nullifying the oathtaking of 920 new policemen last Dec. 1. Calibo clarified that it is not the intention of the Napolcom to deprive the public of protection and service from the PNP but the rules have to be followed.

"What we are really after is to eradicate the presence of scalawags in the police force. The PNP ignored us when they approved the entry of 920 police recruits without undergoing our final approval. If we let it happen, there will be no check and balance," Calibo said.

The Napolcom contended that the list of new recruits should have been evaluated by them first before the oathtaking was conducted.

Aglipay led the ceremonies at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig last Dec. 1 while the Napolcom claims that the list of the NCRPO was submitted only on Dec. 5.

Calibo said that the Napolcom would have finished its evaluation of the applicants in less than a week had the NCRPO followed the procedures. – Marvin Sy