PRO-6: " Western Visayas cops on papal visit, were well provided for"

CEBU, Philippines - Western Visayas policemen sent to augment the security of the January 17 visit of Pope Francis in Tacloban were well provided for, an official of the Police Regional Office said, belying reports that some policemen had complained of poor condition while in the capital city of Leyte.

Senior Superintendent Khasmir Disomangcop, PRO-6 contingent commander, said he and his men were given their basic needs and had their meals catered. He denied report that they were only given P10 per meal.

"That's a complete lie. We were well provided for with bottled water. Our meals are catered. What I ate, they also ate," Disomangcop said.

Aside from PRO-6, seven other police regional offices augmented the local police of Tacloban and Leyte to secure the papal visit. "With thousands of policemen, the catering companies have their hands full. No one would be in his or her right mind would accept a P10 per meal catering service," and that the amount could not even buy a bottled water, Disomangcop said.

Initially, Disomangcop said, he heard complaints about the billeting and how hard it was to use the comfort rooms and bath facilities. "And I understand that it's really hard, given our number. So, I just told them that it's high time that they should learn to appreciate the things that they took for granted while they were in their comfort zones," he added.

Later on, policemen have learned to make use of what they have. However, Disomangcop said there were policemen who were just really "reklamador."

During their 10-day Tacloban and Leyte duty, Disomangcop said they were billeted in classrooms and gymnasium. "Of course, they should not expect that we will be provided with mattresses. Even a piece of cardboard is a luxury," he said.

Disomangcop said he had no idea about the allowance that should be given to each policemen because they had with them Superintendent Robert Petate, of PRO-6 Comptrollership Division, to look after their needs.

Petate, for his part, concurred with Disomangcop that everything was taken care of while in Tacloban. While waiting for a ride home, they no longer partook of the catering services, but each policeman was instead given P300 allowance for their food.

The 1,353 PRO-6 personnel were supposed to be brought back to Iloilo via a C130 plane, but they ended taking up a passenger ship because of the unavailability of the plane. —  (FREEMAN)