PHILIPPINE National Police chief (PNP) General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil has ordered the conduct of zoom conferences in the police force to save time and money needed to gather officials at the same place and time, the Journal Group learned.

Meeting via Zoom will mean less expenses for officials of the different Police Regional and Provincial Offices, their chiefs of police and others who were required to attend meetings in Camp Crame or a given regional office and thus have to pay for extra transport or airline fare and even accommodations.

It also means that there will be more time for these officials to work in their offices without worrying about the possible things that may happen in their jurisdiction in case they are called to report to conferences in Camp Crame or the regions, explained PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean S. Fajardo.

The conduct of meetings through the Zoom in order to optimize the time of unit commanders is one of the initial guidelines set by Gen. Marbil as part of his institutional reforms within the 232,000-strong police force.

Others have been met with huge approval by the majority of the police force although a small minority have resorted to fake news to show their disapproval of the decisions of the 30th PNP chief.

They include the limited duration for mass formation and flag-raising ceremonies (15 to 20 minutes only); the prompt presence and functionality in respective offices before 8:00 am.; the strict prohibition of cellphone use while on patrol duty, with severe penalties for violators; the simplification of PNP personnel compliances to make their lives easier;

the implementation of new Unit Performance Evaluation Rating (UPER) criteria; the accomplishment of 70 percent of warrants of arrests for wanted individuals; the removal of favoritism in promotion and assignments; the elimination of exclusivity for promotion among 3rd level Police Commissioned Officers (PCOs); the restriction of Police Community Relations (PCR) activities to Police Regional Offices (PROs) only, excluding National Operational Support Unit (NOSU) and National Administrative Support Unit (NASU); the non-reassignment of any PNP personnel facing a case to their previous units; and the removal of the 24-hour duty for police personnel.

Gen. Marbil has also denied having ordered the removal of the rice allowances of the police force in order to donate them to Persons Deprived of Liberty in the country.

The PNP chief dismissed rumors and negative posts being circulated on social media regarding the matter and described them as ‘baseless accusations’ coming from his detractors.

“I have not issued any directive concerning the rice allowances of PNP personnel nor do I have any intention to do so,” the 30th PNP chief said.

These malicious attacks, the camp of Gen. Marbil said, are ‘clearly orchestrated by individuals seeking to discredit the PNP chief who has expressed his commitment to restore the reputation of the police force through smart policing methods.

“It is evident that those who have tarnished the name of the PNP are resorting to fabricating lies to malign his policies as the new PNP chief,” a PNP press statement said.

The PNP chief said that attackers of his policies have even added three ‘fake items’ members of the force.

The ‘fake items’ are the following: 1st, the inclusion of an inverted crawl in their Physical Fitness Test which he said is a malicious falsehood as it contradicts the intention of making things easier for their personnel.

The 2nd is the false report that ‘Rice Subsidy, Combat Incentive Pay and Combat Duty Pay are automatically topped up to the regular salaries of PNP personnel through their ATM cards.

He said it is impossible to donate these allowances as suggested in the fake item.

Salary increases also come naturally with promotions and thus, there is no need for a separate announcement as falsely stated in another fake item to discredit the PNP chief.

Gen. Marbil warned those seeking to discredit him and hinder his plans for the PNP will be unmasked and charged with appropriate administrative offenses.

The PNP leadership also urged the public to remain vigilant against false information and to rely on verified sources for accurate updates regarding the PNP’s policies and initiatives.

“The PNP, under Gen. Marbil’s guidance, is unwavering in its commitment to serve and protect the Filipino people with utmost professionalism and integrity,” the statement said.

The unwarranted attacks on social media came after Gen. Marbil issued a ‘no cellphone’ policy for all policemen while on duty.

Ongoing enforcement by the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group of Gen. Marbil’s order to go after on-duty cops using their cellphones to indulge in their vices during working hours has been met with wide approval by members of the force except for a few who have resorted to fake news to hit the directive, the Journal Group learned.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon