Abalos to limit cops' stint in anti-drug unit

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. is seeking to limit the assignment of policemen in the city’s anti-drug unit to one year.

He pointed out that the drug problem is a multi-billion racket and the longer policemen stay in anti-drug units of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the more susceptible they become to all kinds of temptations.

“I would like to put it on record that the accomplishments of the local police anti-drug unit is astounding. I’m satisfied with their performance,” Abalos told The STAR in an interview.

He said experience shows that the number of drug arrests decline when the police officers stay too long in the anti-drug unit.

Abalos added that a short stint in the anti-drug unit would also prevent rampant charges of extortion against policemen.

He made the suggestion in a recent letter to Senior Superintendent Carlos de Sagun, the commander of the Mandaluyong City police.

De Sagun implemented Abalos’ suggestion by reassigning five of the overstaying members of the anti-drug unit to the Police Community Precincts (PCPs).

He said he decided to keep the anti-drug unit commander Chief Inspector Hoover Pascual, who has been at his post for only eight months, and three police officers who have not reached one year in the unit.

According to De Sagun, he will fill up the personnel requirement of Pascual’s unit anytime this week. – Non Alquitran