PRO-3 chief Brig. Gen. Valeriano De Leonreceives memento of visit from NE police director Col. Marvin Joe Saro. Photo by Armand Galang
CABANATUAN CITY – The chiefs of police in 27 towns and five cities of Nueva Ecija were urged “to be more aggressive” in their campaign against illegal drugs and other crimes to be attuned to President Duterte’s anti-criminality drive.
Noting that the Duterte administration has only over two years to go, Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Valeriano De Leon on Monday ordered police officials here “to do more.”
“We are running out of time, dapat let us make an aggressive move to work along with our BADACs (barangay anti-drug abuse councils). Kailangang i-improve natin,” said De Leon.
Failure to perform better may result to the chiefs of police’s removal from office, he warned.
Central Luzon’s top cop expressed disappointment over the “dismal” anti-drig accomplishment in the region that was pegged at 51 percent based on data he himself gathered from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Chiefs of police, as well as commanders of other units such as provincial mobile field forces, he said should never stay in the comfort of their air-conditioned rooms and just let a day pass.
He asked them to establish close coordination with local governments even as he underscored the Duterte administration’s strong support to police’s anti-criminality efforts.
“Engaged themselves (COPs) to their respective mayors para nang sa ganun ay makakuha sila ng suporta. And inform the mayor if there are barangay officials who are uncooperative,” De Leon said.
He expressed belief that while mayors may somehow be blind about drug situation on the ground, villageofficials would never be.
De Leon also underscored the need to step up the campaign against loose firearms.
Part of De Leon’s visit to Nueva Ecija was the awarding of medals to police officers and men who successfully effected the arrest or neutralization of suspected drug personalities and wanted persons in the province with provincial police director Col. Marvin Joe Saro.
