CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – A total of 155 policemen including one Superintendent (Lt. Colonel in the armed forces) have been directed to undergo three-month re-training for their alleged involvement in various administrative and criminal offenses as part of the reformation program of the organization, top police official here announced Monday.
“The training program is a sort of disciplining them and at the same time to hone their policing skills. While we gave second chance to civilian drug addicts, we also give chance to members of the PNP to reform,” said Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Aaron N. Aquino.
Aquino said sending them to far-flung areas specifically to Southern Mindanao is not a solution. “There’s lacking link, have we tried to initiate reform? We immediately decide on giving them punishment without initiating reform.”
Of the figure, Aquino said 12 policemen failed to join the first batch. “Administrative offense awaits them.”
“This will be a long program which includes spiritual counselling, attitude and behavioural training. it’s like they are undergoing basic police training,” said Aquino adding they will be sent outside of region 3 as option once they failed the reformation training.
Central Luzon PNP has the biggest number of policemen re-assigned to Mindanao since the organization wages its war on illegal drugs with its members.
“Kung tutuusin, itong 155 na pulis ay magiging fourth batch sana na ipatatapon ko sa Mindanao, kaya lang hinold ko muna para bigyan ng chance na magbago. Sabi ko nga this is not a form of punishment but to develop them and be committed again to the PNP,” said Aquino.
While on re-training, Aquino said these policemen will still enjoy the full benefits of a regular member of the PNP. “They will still receive their pay and allowances and benefits accorded to them.”
Aquino assured that there will be no vacuum of police personnel in areas where they came from as their position would be filled-up by policemen from the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB). He said those who will succeed in the three-month program will return back to their mother units.
“Kung may natanggal na tiwaling pulis, may papalit na matitino,” Aquino pointed out.
Those policemen who are undergoing re-training came mostly from different police stations in different provinces in the region, Aquino said.
“Hindi natin maitatago na sa mga police stations marami ang tiwaling pulis, kaya inuna namain ang mga istasyun,” Aquino added.
Aquino is hopeful that this would be the first and last batch of policemen in region 3 to undergo re-training. “Hopefully ito na ang last.”