More cop chiefs to be relieved during holidays

TALIÑO

THE holidays won’t look so good for several police precinct chiefs who will be relieved from their posts before Christmas, the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) said yesterday.

Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, PRO-7 chief, said based on the evaluation of the Oversight Committee on Illegal Drugs, a lot of the precinct chiefs failed to deliver in their campaign against drugs.

“There are low-performers. And so, we have to relieve them. Palitan natin ng masipag at makaka-accomplish ng mga dapat gawin (We shall replace them with hardworking policemen who can accomplish the task),” he said.

Taliño refused to reveal the identities nor the number of police station chiefs who are set to be relieved, saying the order has not been released yet.
“It’s either these policemen are just lazy or maybe they are not motivated to do their jobs lately or they are really protecting drug personalities in their areas,” he said.

Taliño advised provincial and city police directors to monitor their station commanders, and if needed, they could relieve them from their posts.
He said the performance of police precinct chiefs may also affect the provincial and city police directors.

“Christmas is ultimately bleak for policemen who are not doing what they are supposed to do,” Taliño said.

Since July 1, at least 200 policemen in Central Visayas were relieved from their posts and transferred outside the region.

No reason was stated in their relief orders.

But Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa earlier said that those who were relieved were linked to the illegal drugs trade.

Policemen are monitoring schools in Cebu City to protect students and teachers from the menace of illegal drugs.

Senior Supt. Joel Doria, Cebu City police chief, said illegal drugs may have been sold to students and teachers outside school premises.

He said beat patrol policemen will help monitor activities outside the schools.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the city will acquire 100 specially trained dogs to help detect any drugs sold in schools, commercial establishments and public places in the city.