‘Red team’ to go after Metro cops hooked on playing golf, clubbing

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has started deploying “red teams” to go after police officers playing golf during weekdays and drinking in nightclubs.

Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, acting director of NCRPO, said Friday that red teams are composed of police officers from Central Visayas, where he previously served as regional police director, to avoid familiarity by policemen who will be caught violating such rules.

READ: Duterte prohibits cops from drinking in public places

“Umiikot ‘yan, naka-motor ‘yan sila, nakabuddy-buddy ‘yan. Tapos ni-request ko rin na pagdating sa gabi, magpasok na rin ng mga clubs to observe (They make the rounds onboard motorcycles, in a ‘buddy-buddy’ system. I also requested that they visit clubs at night to observe),” he said in a press briefing at Kamuning Police Station in Quezon City.

Sinas, a golf player himself, said members of the red team only have to take photos of policemen who will be spotted in golf courses during weekdays and binge drinking in nightclubs.

He pointed out that his order was in accordance with the order of Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), who directed a ban on all police officers against playing golf during weekdays as it may interfere with their duties as law enforcers.

READ: No more golf for cops on weekdays – PNP

“That’s the order of the OIC. We have to follow, too,” said Sinas, adding that deploying red teams effectively deterred police officers from playing golf during weekdays when he implemented the same in Central Visayas.

Sinas said the red team directly reports to him. He declined to identify how many police officers are members of the group.

Under police terms, red teams are considered inspection teams that make rounds during big events. There is also another group called blue team, which guards the vicinity of venues. Sinas said the police have coined these terms for proper coordination during major events.

As of posting time, the red team has not spotted a police officer playing golf during weekdays, according to Sinas. He said NCRPO is now consolidating a list of policemen hooked on playing golf for monitoring. /kga