In a report on Inquirer.net, PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde criticized a local mayor in Metro Manila for reportedly not supporting PNP personnel following the reassignment of the chief of police without the chief local executive being informed.

“I think sa Eastern Police District. Hindi mo lang masabihan tanggal kaagad ‘yung support to police in his area. You know these are childish acts,” said Albayalde in an interview.

“Hindi nasabihan or na-inform na tinanggal ‘yung chief of police niya, na dinala to another post because we have a career also. Meron kaming tinatawag na career ladder na kailangan na umangat yung position ng pulis.” he added.

NCRPO Chief Confirms

The mayor whom the Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier criticized for committing “childish acts” is Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro.

National Capital Region Police Office Director Major General Guillermo Eleazar revealed this after PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde criticized a mayor in the Eastern Police District (EPD) for allegedly withdrawing support to cops in his area.

On March 21, Col. Roger Quesada, former Marikina City police chief, was promoted to chief of the directorial staff of the Police Regional Office in Mimaropa. Col. Redrico Maranan replaced him as acting chief.

Under the law, local chief executives may choose who will be appointed as chief of police in their area from the list of officers recommended by the PNP.

Albayalde, however, explained that the PNP may also assign an acting chief even before the mayor assigns a permanent top cop in his municipality.

Marikina Mayor Teodoro “Allegedly” Cancelled the Fuel Assistance to Police Mobiles & Ordered to Tear Down Tarpaulins of Albayalde & Eleazar

Eleazar said that Teodoro, as a response to the PNP’s move to appoint a new police chief, allegedly canceled the gas assistance for police mobiles for a day. The mayor returned it a day after, but it was only a third of the regular gas allowance.

The mayor also reportedly stopped providing ordinance violation receipts to the Marikina City Police and had even ordered to tear down the tarpaulins of Albayalde and Eleazar with the hotline numbers of NCRPO.

The NCRPO chief said it’s high time that the public is made aware of the the actions of Teodoro who is seeking a second term as mayor of Marikina City.

He added that the NCRPO will report the issue to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for possible action.

Mayor Teodoro Reacts

“Palagay ko hindi naman childish acts ‘yun. Masyadong unfair yung statement,” he said. “We are not withdrawing anything. No. That’s not true.”

According to Teodoro, he was only proposing to Maranan to assess the amount that the local police were receiving for  from the national headquarters of the PNP for their gasoline supply so the amount needed will be split with the LGU. 

Let's Support the Local Police

The local government units (LGUs) and its officials should always support and cooperate with the PNP. They also should keep on communicating because most missunderstandings starts with this.

The childish act or the uncooperative move of some local officials will not help the PNP in its campaign against criminality and the community in general. In these times, we should start trusting the PNP.

There is no room for divisiveness especially now with the upcoming election. I think, the police force is striving hard to keep the peace and order in our community.