Revamp to affect 79 Calabarzon cops

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines – At least 79 police officials designated as officers-in-charge in the Calabarzon region during the May elections are set to be reshuffled once the newly elected local officials assume office.

Senior Superintendent Rolando Opeña, chief of Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division, said there are 142 police chiefs in Region 4A, including the 79 OICs and 68 with permanent status.

The 79 OICs assumed the posts at the start of the campaign period in January. There are 21 police OICs in Cavite, 27 in Laguna, 14 in Batangas, eight in Rizal and 10 in Quezon.

Opeña said the realignment would be implemented before and after the oath-taking of elected officials based on Memorandum Circular 2002-011 issued by the National Police Commission.

He said city and municipal mayors can choose the chiefs of police of their localities as well as recall and reassign them.

Opeña said the reshuffle targets overstaying chiefs of police and provincial directors, or those who have been in their post for almost two years, and those who failed to curb crime in their jurisdictions.

Senior Inspector Cecilia Perlas, chief of the recruitment division, said they are waiting for the recommendations from five provincial directors as to who would be removed or retained.    – Ed Amoroso