CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “Transferring us to other assignments or units is not a wise move especially as we are still suffering from the effects of the coronavirus.” Thus, said a senior police officer holding a key position in the Central Luzon command but asked that he remained unnamed.
This, in the wake of the “walking papers” served senior police officers who have stayed for over 10 years in their respective areas of assignment deploying them to other units in the region.
“Dislocation of families in this time of pandemic” was cited as the primary reason for the opposition of the rank and file to the reorganization which affected over 100 senior police officers.
“Most of us were relieved as early as last week and were surprised of this. We have not done any misdeeds, and besides our families will be the one to suffer for this,” said one policeman who also requested for anonymity.
The police officers however said they had no choice but to obey the directive issued by the regional headquarters or they will face administrative sanctions.
Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia clarified that the police officers were not relieved for involvement in any misdemeanor but were reassigned after reaching “the maximum accumulated stay of police commissioned officers in one provincial/city office which is 10 years”.
“There’s a PNP policy to relieve officers who have reached the maximum ten-year stay in one provincial/city offices as mandated in the Memorandum Circular Number 2013–014 Prescribing the Policies and Procedures Governing the Placement of Second Level Uniformed Personnel,” explained Sermonia.
He said that the maximum accumulated stay of PCOs in one PPOs/CPOs shall not exceed 10 years: “They shall be rotated within the territorial units of PRO in order to provide them varied opportunities for career advancement and ensure exposure to other field duties to further improve their leadership skills and capabilities.”
