By Liwayway Yparraguirre/ PNA NEWS
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Pangasinan on Thursday reshuffled 38 out of the 48 police chief officers (PCOs) assigned in the key cities and towns of the province.
“Some of the PCOs have reached two years in their assigned police station, while some would go schooling. And this is also part of our preparation for the upcoming elections,” Senior Supt. Wilson Lopez, provincial director of Pangasinan police, said in an interview on Friday.
Among those reassigned were the town police chiefs of Agno, Bani, Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini, Sual, Aguilar, Basista, Binmaley, Bugallon, Labrador, Lingayen, Mangatarem, Urbiztondo, Bayambang, Calasiao, Malasiqui, Mapandan, Sta. Barbara, Manaoag, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Alcala, Bautista, Binalonan, Laoac, Sison, Asingan, Balungao, Natividad, San Manuel, San Nicolas, San Quintin and Sta. Maria, and cities of San Carlos and Urdaneta.
Lopez added that some 40 officers from the Police Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (PPHAU), Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), provincial intelligence branch (PIB), among others, were also reassigned to different police stations in the province.
He noted that 200 PCOs from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion have been added to the total number of police personnel of Pangasinan.
“They have been with us since December last year and they will assist us also in the elections this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lopez encouraged the public to cooperate with law enforcers during the conduct of checkpoints set in different parts of the province.
“Huwag silang matakot sa mga checkpoints dahil ginagawa natin yan para masiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan (They should not be scared of the checkpoints because we are doing that to ensure the safety of the people),” he said.
