MANILA, Philippines — Barring police officers and men from playing golf during weekdays was a “very sound and fair” order from Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, according to Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former police chief himself.
READ: No more golf for cops on weekdays – PNP
“That is a very sound marching order…I believe that police officers being government employees should sacrifice family time instead of that of the government,” said Lacson in a message to reporters.
Lacson added that banning policemen and officers from playing golf “was one of my first instructions” when he became national police chief on Nov. 16, 1999.
“No one can play golf during my time because policemen feared me when I was their chief,” Lacson said in Filipino. “Aside from golf, also strictly prohibited are extortion and bulging tummies,” he said recalling his orders during his time as Philippine National Police chief.
On Twitter, Lacson was all praises for Gamboa’s order calling it “very sound and fair.”
PNP OIC Gamboa’s marching order to police golfers to resist the fairway during office hours is very sound and fair. Policemen may instead sacrifice family time during weekends, not that of government that feeds their families.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) October 16, 2019
“Policemen may instead sacrifice family time during weekends, not that of government that feeds their families,” he added.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac earlier noted that the ban would be in effect on weekdays even if the policeman or officer is off duty.
“Absolutely no golf ban exemption on weekdays,” Banac told INQUIRER.net in a text message. “That’s with or without duty. No one is allowed to play golf,” he said.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) officer-in-charge Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said golf is a time-consuming game that may reduce the time police officers and men spend on duty.
“Personally I play golf,” Sinas said. “Golf takes time to play. It usually takes four hours,” he said.
Aside from being time-consuming, golf is also an expensive game. A set of clubs could easily cost P100,000 and green fees, or payment to play in a golf course, costs hundreds of pesos./TSB