I’M raising this issue again knowing that except for the PNP chief, placing third-level Philippine National Police officers who have less than a year in service in key PNP positions literally undermine all transformation efforts of the force.

To illustrate my point, designating a police colonel who has only six, eight to ten months left before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 to a Table of Organization or T.O. position that carries the rank of a Brigadier General defeats the PNP reform program and automatically triggers institutional dysfunction.

Second, being an officer-in-charge or OIC of a major unit only really raises concern about the readiness, experience and motivation of that retiring officer but also affects their real job literally due to their limited powers. This is true in all PNP units, whether they are Police Regional Offices or National Operational or Administrative Support Units.

It has been proven in the PNP since it was created in 1991 that an OIC of a unit has limited powers, mainly focused on the day-to-day administration of his office and ensuring that it will continue its normal operations.

However, OICs in PNP units generally cannot make discretionary decisions or exercise powers like appointing, dismissing or suspending personnel or signing contracts unless specifically authorized by a higher authority.

The PNP law likewise say that officers with less than a year before retirement cannot be promoted to higher ranks or key positions. Thus, apart from that OIC, the future of other officers are also affected particularly those who have nearly two years to go before retiring and are also hoping to get a position that would earn them the promotion they rightly deserve.

Restrictions on promotion as a result of temporary or OIC designations could also lead to reduced accountability down the line. And as many PNP officers-active and retired have been saying-it really has a negative impact on the morale of officers.

This is really true. Placing an officer who has less than a year left in the service simply because they have the ‘right connection’ undermines the morale and effectiveness of the force apart from having an officer who is more susceptible to influence or pressure, thus compromising their integrity.

To address this old-age dysfunction, what the PNP needs is to ensure that promotions must really be based on merit, experience and performance, rather than on other factors like political connection etc.

By the way, many officials have told me that in the PNP Engineering Service, almost all of its Regional Offices are headed by OICs with the rank of Major, not by Colonels who supposedly must head the 17 Regional Engineering Service Units or REUs.

I found out that the National Police Commission in 2019 approved the strengthening of the PNP-ES thru the activation of its 17 REUs to further enhance the Unit’s capability in managing the real properties of the force.

The Napolcom then chaired by Secretary Ed Ano ordered that each REUs shall be headed by an official with the rank of Police Colonel. With nearly all REUs headed by Majors-turned OICs, what happened to the Napolcom resolution?

Is there a lack of Police Colonels in the main headquarters of the PNP-ES which is responsible for the overall planning, implementation, supervision and evaluation of all PNP engineering programs, land utilization and housing activities? Is there a truth to claims many of them don’t want to go the regions as they don’t want to leave their comfort zone?

CONGRATULATIONS TO NEWLY-DESIGNATED PNP OFFICIALS

On a personal note, I would like to congratulate friends from the police force who have been designated to positions of major responsibility last week by PNP chief, General Rommel Marbil. Take note that these officers have quite a few years left in the service and were temporarily named as OICs prior to their eventual designation as permanent directors.

They include erstwhile Manila Police District director Brigadier Gen. Tom Ibay of PNP Academy ‘Kaagapay’ Class of 1996 who is now the OIC of the newly-activated Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region.

Ibay, a good friend way back in the early 2000, has been replaced by his classmate Brig. Gen. Benigno ‘Boyet’ Guzman, the erstwhile senior executive assistant of Gen. Marbil. Guzman is now the OIC of Manila’s Finest.

Brig. Gen. Elmer Ragay of PNPA ‘Patnubay’ Class of 1995 is now the OIC-Executive Officer of the Area Police Command-Northern Luzon while another PNPA Class 1996 member, Colonel David Poklay, the erstwhile Deputy Director for Operations of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is now the OIC of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group.

Another PNPA Class 1995 member, erstwhile Southern Police District director Brig. Gen. Manny Abrugena has been named as Deputy Regional Director for Operations of the National Capital Region Police Office.

Erstwhile NCRPO DRDO Brig. Gen. Pojie Peñones Jr. is now the the new Deputy Regional Director for Administration of the Metro Manila police force currently headed by Major Gen. Anthony Aberin.

Brig. Gen. Dindo Reyes, the erstwhile director of the PNP Retirement and Benefits Administration Service is now the new PNP Logistics Support Service director while Brig. Gen. Joseph Arguelles, the former head of the PNP Peace Process and Development Center took over as the new SPD director.Col. Francisco Ebreo has been designated as the new head of the PPDC.

Abrugena, Peñones, Reyes, Arguelles and Ebreo also belong to PNPA Class 1995. Congratulations Gentlemen. May we all have a safe and blessed Holy Week with our families.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon