CABANATUAN CITY – Gov. Aurelio Umali has realigned P20-million from his intelligence fund to finance a multi purpose building at the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Offi ce (NEPPO) at Burgos Street here that will serve as venue for conferences and hostel for policemen and their visiting family.
Umali, who led the ground-breaking ceremonies along with PNP Director Gen. Alan Purisima, said the project is a fi tting recognition to the contribution of the police in keeping sound peace and order of the province, especially during the last two elections.
Also present during the ground-breaking were National Police Commission Vice Chairman Eduardo Escueta and Commissioners Alejandro Urro and Luisito Palmera and provincial police director, Senior Supt. Crizaldo Nieves.
The multi-purpose building features a conference hall on the ground floor, 10 minisuites on the second floor and four suites on the third floor. The governor said he was particularly concerned for policemen whose families from far places had to be housed in not-so-advisable places.
“You are uniformed and your families deserve decent places when they visit you,” Umali said. Purisima said such facility will be a big help, particularly to transient officers and men and also to their families who come for a visit.
Nieves said that the facility is something the local police can be proud of. He said that such facility gives the local police a more dignified look and commands respect from the public.
Umali, who is chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council, said that his administration has been extending full support to the local PNP because it was instrumental in changing the image of the province from a political war zone into a zone of peace, referring to the spate of politically motivated killings.
“Before, Nueva Ecija’s history was written in violence. I have to rewrite it and I can only do that if I have the support of the police,” he said in his speech. He said the province was so blessed to have Purisima – a Novo Ecijano – as the chief of the 148,000-strong police force.
According to Umali, his administration has been extending assistance to the local PNP as a show of respect to the law enforcers, something which, he said, should be followed by other local government units in the province.
