Camp Olivas, Pampanga—About 400 non-commissioned police officers have been transferred to their choice of assignments in their hometowns as part of the Philippine National Police ‘localization’ program, a move welcomed by the rank and file of the organization.
Most of those who applied for reassignments, according to the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) are residents of different provinces in Central Luzon and nearby Metro Manila. Their transfer is effective Wednesday (Oct. 14).
“It initially covers inter-regional reassignment of personnel to their homelands to give them a strong sense of ownership of their locality, and will attain maximum efficiency and more effective law enforcement,” said Police BGen Valeriano De Leon, director of PRO3, in a statement.
Non-commissioned police officers are those with the rank of patrolman to senior executive master sergeant. The localization program is also applicable to commissioned police officers, it was gathered.
Earlier, Police Lt. General Guillermo Eleazar, PNP Director for Administration, conducted an audit of personnel in the regional police headquarters to ensure the smooth implementation of the ‘localization’ program.
“We have to check the total strength in terms of personnel of all police units to balance the manpower of every police office, “ said Eleazar during a phone interview, adding that guidelines and parameters have been set for those who wish to apply and avail of their transfer to their hometown.
Former PRO3 director Police BGen Rhodel Sermonia initiated mass reassignments of policemen, both non-commissioned and commissioned officers, who have reached 10 years in their respective positions, a policy strongly opposed by majority of the policemen and even local chief executiveS here in Central Luzon.
In fact, a Nueva Ecija mayor had filed an administrative complaint against Sermonia before the Office of the Ombudsman for the relief of his town’s chief of police.
De Leon said the localization program in the deployment of personnel is in line with the 9 Point Agenda of PNP Chief PGen. Camilo Cascolan.
The program is in line with Section 63 of Republic Act 8551 or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, wherein PNP members from Patrolman up to Police Executive Master Sergeant will be assigned to the city and municipality of their recruitment and/or place of residence or if not possible, to the closest municipality, province or regions to his residence.
