CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Sixteen chiefs of police in different towns and provinces in Central Luzon have been booted out from their respective positions as part of the Philippine National Police’s routine to avoid being partisan in the upcoming mid-term elections in May, a top police official here announced Saturday.
Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, however, quickly clarified that the revamp has nothing to do with the poor performance of the COPs but a normal routine of the PNP to give other deserving police officers a chance to prove their worth.
“Those affected in the revamp are not considered as poor performers but they have reached the maximum two-year tenure in their respective areas of responsibility (AOR),” Coronel explained in a press statement sent to reporters.
Affected in the revamp are nine COPs in Nueva Ecija; four in Zambales; two in Bulacan and one in Bataan. The names of police officers and their replacements were not mentioned, but the directive was issued with haste or effective immediately.
Coronel, who has been top cop in the region for more than a month, said the reshuffle was approved by the regional oversight committee.
“Transfer from one assignment to another is part of the police service specifically for police officers for them to test their capabilities,” Coronel added.
The regional police director directed all police units to be more aggressive in combatting criminals including gun-for-hire groups, private armed groups serving as security of politicians and strictly implement the gun ban to ensure peaceful elections.