MANILA, Philippines – Newly appointed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Nicanor Bartolome appealed to the140,000-strong police force to join him in bringing back police pride.
“Nais kong samahan nyo ako sa isang serbisyong tapat at marangal [I want you to join me in service that is honest and decent],” said the new PNP chief during the Change of Command Ceremony at the Camp Crame national headquarters in Quezon city Friday.
“We are now past in training of the basics. There is now a need to level up and cope with the changing times. We shall enhance individual skills. We shall specialize. We will give a premium to investigation, resource management and even disaster response,” said Bartolome who would serve until March 2013.
Resource management and disaster preparedness will be given importance in his term, Bartolome said.
He said that the coordination between the police and the people was very important so a police officer would be deployed in every barangay (village).
Arrests of most wanted persons will be a target and a periodic performance audit will be submitted, he said.
The PNP will also have human rights desk, he said.
Bartolome said the PNP should bring back its high degree of morality and professionalism.
Bartolome said he envisioned a PNP with “self-esteem, self-pride, competent and initiative.”
“Ako po si Nicanor Bartolome, pulis ako, pulis nyo po [I am Nicanor Bartolome. I am a policeman, I am your policeman]!” said Bartolome at the end of his speech.
Bartolome became teary-eyed as he thanked some of his batchmates from the police and military who he said came all the way from North Cotabato to attend the ceremony.
Bartolome is a native of Gerona Tarlac was married to a Dr. Noemia Bartolome and has two children Nicar and Nico who also attended the event.
After graduating from Philippine Military Academy in 1980, he was sent to Mindanao and stayed there for 12 years.
He finished his Masteral degree in Business Administration at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in 1995 and Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology at the Philippine College of Criminology in 2009.
He completed different law enforcement courses in both local and abroad. He was the only graduate of PNP career course to have received the PPSC President’s Award for garnering a 96.16 grade.
He was a Division Chief in the Directorate for Logistics, Budget and Fiscal Officer in the Directorate for Research and Development and Chief of Directorial Staff of Headquarters Support Service.
He held important positions – from being a platoon leader in Maguindanao in 1980 to being the Chief of Directorial Staff. He was also a provincial director of Tarlac , Director of the Police Community Relations Group, Chief of the PNP Public Information Office and spokesman to five PNP chiefs.
He also received several awards and medals.