PRO-3 chief Brig. Gen. Valeriano De Leon
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Police Regional Office 3 at Camp Olivas here reassigned, effective Oct. 14, some 400 policemen to their hometowns and permanent places of residence.
This, newly installed PRO-3 chief Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon said, is part of the localization program in line with the 9–Point Agenda of Philippine National Police being pursued by PNP chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan.
Initiated by the PNP directorate for personnel and records management, the Localization of Assignment Program is mandated under Section 63 of Republic Act 8551 or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.
The law carries the provision for PNP members with the ranks of patrolman/woman up to police executive master sergeant to 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 their residence.”
“Assignment to one’s hometown, province, or region gives a police officer the sense of ownership of the locality that he represents,” Cascolan said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday. “The [localization] program will attain maximum efficiency and more effective law enforcement by prioritizing the welfare of every PNP personnel and reinforcing family solidarity.”
The PNP chief noted that the program is the PNP leadership’s way to boost police morale and to impact upon the officers the imperative to do their best in performing their duty as law enforcers in their respective communities.
“This is one way to tell our personnel that we expect the best performance from them and to tell them that we are taking care of them,” he said.
A send-off ceremony for all PNP personnel who availed themselves of the localization program was simultaneously held nationwide in all police regional offices.
At the Camp Olivas rites, De Leon could not contain what he called “mixed emotions” as he addressed the policemen: “We are delighted to know that after years of being away from your families and loved ones, finally, you will be home. Yet, somehow, we are also saddened with the thought that you will leave PRO3 which has been your home for quite some time.”
He bade them, in parting: “I am sure that you will all do well. Continue to serve and protect our people and always render to them the best police experience.” With Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu/PIA–3
