UNDER the proposed PNP Reorganization Plan, the five existing Area Police Commands will be officially recognized by Congress and fully empowered to help support the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in supervising the 227,000-strong force’s campaign against insurgency, terrorism and other internal security threats, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

As proposed, a new Section 25-B will be inserted in Republic Act No. 6975 otherwise known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 in order to enhance the control of the Chief of the PNP in the country.

It says that Area Police Commands shall be established in Clustered Police Regional Offices. The APC shall orchestrate, supervise and control the conduct of inter-regional operations against insurgency, terrorism and other internal security threats.

Further, the APC shall likewise conduct search, rescue and relief operations in times and calamities and other emergency situations within their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Finally, the APC shall support the Police Regional Offices in the conduct of inter-regional anti-criminality operations and investigation.

For this purpose, the APCs shall have administrative and operational control over the existing Regional Mobile Force Battalions within their respective areas of responsibility subject to the exercise of the power of delegation of authority of the Chief of the PNP and strict compliance to the doctrine of Chain of Command.

Initially, five APCS shall be activated namely Northern Luzon Area Police Command, Southern Luzon Area Police Command, Visayas Area Police Command, Eastern Mindanao Area Police Command and Western Mindanao Area Police Command.

To enhance police operational efficiency and effectiveness, the Chief of the PNP may constitute, modify or merge APCs as may be necessary subject to the approval of the National Police Commission: Provided that no APC headed by a Police Brigadier General or higher can be created unless provided for by law. Prior to that, there have been controversy over the creation of these APCs which were formerly known as PNP Directorates for Integrated Police Operations since they were established in 2009 without the approval of Congress.

For so many years, these five DIPOs also became known for being either the ‘dumping ground’ of police generals who have been relieved from their former posts or colonels who just stay there simply because they have no choice or want to get a promotion until a number of PNP chiefs during the former Duterte administration decided to make them more active in the peace and order campaign by giving them more authority over police regional offices under their watch.

At present, the APC-Northern Luzon is headed by Lieutenant Gen. Felipe R. Natividad; the APC-Southern Luzon is under Lt. Gen. Rhoderick C. Armamento; the APC-Eastern Visayas is headed by Lt. Gen. Filmore B. Escobal; the APC-Eastern Mindanao is under Lt. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. and the APC-Visayas is headed by Lt. Gen. Patrick T. Villacorte.

The House Committee on Public Order and Safety chaired by Laguna (1st District) Representative Dan S. Fernandez has approved the proposed reorganization plan of the police force, according to PNP Director for Plans, Major Gen. Bernard M. Banac.

Maj. Gen. Banac said the House Committee on Public Order and Safety has adopted the report and draft bill prepared by Technical Working Group chairman, retired Police General-turned Antipolo City (2nd District) Rep. Romeo M. Acop.

“It will be presented during the plenary sessions of the House of Representatives. Hopefully, it will be categorized as Priority Bills and certified as urgent by both Houses,” said the official who has been praised in public by PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. for his ‘miracle work’ in Congress.

Maj. Gen. Banac said they have received the full support of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin T. Romualdez and Senate President, Senator Jose Miguel ‘Migz’ F. Zubiri in their bid to further reform the 227,000-strong police force and improve its ‘move, shoot, communicate and investigate’ capabilities under the administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr.

The former PNP spokesperson who also became a PNP Training Service director and later head of the Police Regional Office 8 in Eastern Visayas added that Senate President Zubiri had informed them that the proposed bill will be studied and reviewed by a Senate committee chaired by former PNP chief-turned Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ M. dela Rosa.

The proposed PNP Reorganization Plan calls for the adaptation of the current structure of the Philippine National Police including the pay and allowances of PNP personnel, amending for the purpose Sections 25,26,29,30,31,35, 36 and 67 of Republic Act No. 6975 otherwise known as the ‘Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990,’ as amended and Section 32 or RA No. 8551 otherwise known as the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 and appropriating funds therefor.