65 Pasig cops off to Subic for re-training

Sixty-five policemen from the Pasig City police force will leave this week for a 15-day re-training at the Subic Freeport in Olongapo City.

Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol said the members of the police precinct and Drug Enforcement unit of the Pasig City police and the DEU of the Eastern Police District (EPD) comprise the first batch of policemen that will take the Philippine National Police (PNP) Values and Leadership course.

The re-training of the 325-strong Pasig City police was ordered after elements of the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) raided a drug "tiangge" at the Mapayapa compound in Barangay Sto. Tomas last Feb. 10.

It will be only the second time that an entire police force would be sent for re-training in Subic for their alleged failure to maintain peace and order in their area of responsibility.

A few years ago, the entire Pasay City police were sent for retraining also in Subic after a child hostage was killed in a rescue operation.

But unlike the case of the Pasay City police force where its commander was among those sent for re-training, Querol said they are still deliberating whether chief of police Senior Superintendent Raul Medina will join his men in the PNP school.

"I cannot say yet whether Medina would be included in the re-training," he said, adding that relieved Pasig City Police Community Precinct 20 commander Senior Inspector Salvador de la Cruz will be included in the list.

At least 20 policemen, including Medina, were relieved from their post for their alleged failure to monitor the existence of the drug den, which is just 500 meters away from the EPD headquarters along Caruncho Ave. and the City Hall building.

According to Querol, he will deploy policemen from the EPD and the national headquarters to Pasig City when the first batch of trainees leave for Subic so as not to disrupt police operations in the city.

For his part, Chief Superintendent Sammy Tucay, head of the PNP training school, said the trainees would be taught basic discipline and leadership and undergo rigorous team training, exercise and prayers.

Tucay said the first batch of trainees is expected to graduate by March 7.

Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Ernesto Belen, director of the PNP Crime Laboratory said De la Cruz and other relieved policemen had tested negative for shabu. — Non Alquitran