PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — New Police Regional Office 4-B (Mimaropa) director, Chief Supt. Tomas Apolinario Jr., has asked Palawan police officials to intensify their internal cleansing against erring cops to sustain public trust and confidence.
Apolinario, who arrived in the city for a “command visit” on Monday afternoon, also reminded Puerto Princesa City Police Director, Supt. Ronnie Francia Cariaga, and Palawan Provincial Police Director, Supt. Gabriel Lopez, to further step up their anti-hard drugs campaign to preserve the province’s “peaceful atmosphere.”
“Sincerely, I would like to encourage all personnel to do everything, to do your best, to maintain the peacefulness of your city (and province). Kapag ito ay napabayaan, magiging parang Manila ito. Dadami ang sindikato, ang police papatol sa illegal hanggang sa hindi niyo na ma-monitor at hindi niyo na ma-control (If this is neglected, this place will be like Manila. Syndicates will increase in number, and some cops will likely join them that it would become difficult for you to monitor and control them),” he said.
Apolinario said being vigilant should not only be towards the public but also their own ranks, warning everyone present in the event that blundering cops will not be tolerated.
“Ang understanding sa (Camp) Crame, kung ang isang syndicate group ay walang protection from the law enforcement, ito ay hindi lalaki (The understanding in Camp Crame is that a syndicate group would not prosper if it has no protection from law enforcers),” he said.
In response, Lopez said the public can come to him personally to report any erring police personnel, whom they know are involved in illegal drugs and other criminal activities.
“Kung sakali na kami mismo, may nakita kaming tao namin, as officer, as leader, nakita namin ‘yung tao na kailangan ng correction, i-correct namin. Kung hindi namin kayang i-correct, i-refer sa kanya at siya ang gagawa ng hakbang (If we find any of our personnel, as officer, as leader, if we see he needs to be corrected, we will do so. If we cannot do that, we will refer to him and he will make the steps),” he said. (Celeste Anna Formoso/PNA)
