TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, October 10, (PIA) –The agency tasked to have supervisory control over the Philippine National Police (PNP) reveals, “some town police chiefs in Bohol are not qualified.”
The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), in a recent meeting at the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) told members that in their province-wide inspection, they noted some chiefs of police designations are against a standing policy.
Those leading town police stations should have the ranks of Police Senior Inspector, Police Chief Inspector or Police Superintendent, NAPOLCOM stressed.
Atty. Olive Grace Hebron, NAPOLCOM Bohol chief added that some stations are currently led by lower-ranked Senior Police Officers.
“No PCO shall be designated to a certain position unless he or she meets the minimum qualification standards for the rank required for the position,” she cited Sec. 6c, NAPOLCOM M.C. No. 2008-004.
But, probably to protect the concerned police officers from embarrassment, she had the tact not to pick on these “unfit” station commanders.
“One can become a chief of police after getting past a series of trainings on crime fighting, and without that, how can you expect the COPs to know,” her questing apparently stirred several council members.
The situation seemingly worsened with the current police to civilian ratio.
In Bohol, one police officer would have to watch over 800 civilians scattered in 3000 square meters, based on NAPOLCOM report.
By that, preventing a crime from happening would be next to impossible. But, with crimes held at bay here, either the police are really good, or they are smartly using force-multipliers, NAPOLCOM also observed.
In her PPOC report, Atty. Hebron said their latest annual inspection and audit of project plans per town police stations show that police law enforcers are grossly outnumbered by the civilian population it is supposed to serve and protect.
“There are only 1,517 police officers and men all over Bohol, which has about 1,109 barangays,” she reported.
In the ame report, Atty. Hebron showed Bohol’s current population at 1,345,521, and with a land area of 4, 117.3 square miles, it also means, when spread out, a police officer would have to stand and watch over 887 civilians so spaced out that it would be impossible for the police to see from end to end.
And as if it were all that is wrong, the lady lawyer NAPOLCOM head adds, their inspection also revealed there is low compliance of Napolcom MC 2008-004.
MC 2008-004 states the maximum tour of duty of chiefs of police in a municipal station shall be for a maximum of three years.
In several areas, some designation of officers in charge exceeds the period allowed and in several instances, they do not even have confirmation by the NAPOLCOM Regional Director for sitting in their positions. (PIABohol/RAC)
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