PNP reassigns 2,000 cops to their hometowns

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police chief Police Gen. Camilo Cascolan has reassigned over 2,000 police officers to their hometowns under the agency’s localization program.

Cascolan led the sendoff ceremony for the 2,222 policemen at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Wednesday, saying that “the program will attain maximum efficiency and more effective law enforcement by prioritizing the welfare of every PNP personnel and reinforcing family solidarity.”

Under the PNP’s localization program, qualified policemen will be given regional assignments, specifically in their hometowns and places of permanent residence.

Sense of ownership

“This mass movement of personnel, initially covers interregional reassignment of personnel to their hometowns and places of permanent residence to give them a strong sense of ownership of their own locality and, in the process, induce better performance,” Cascolan said.

According to him, police officers prefer to be assigned in their hometowns because they want to “be with their wives, because they will take care of their families, do their jobs better.”

“I fully understand your emotional and financial struggle and sacrifices being away from your families and loved ones as well as the difficulties in adjusting to a new place,” he said.

The PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 states that those with the rank of patrolman or patrolwoman up to police executive master sergeant would “be assigned to the city and municipality of their recruitment and/or place of residence or, if not possible, to the closest municipality, province or regions to his residence.”

Cascolan warned policemen who would commit abuses and urged the public to report abusive policemen so they can be transferred to other areas.