Axed cop chiefs fell ‘below standard’

Superintendent Wilben Mayor. Photo from www.valenzuela.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—They were given weekly “scorecards” but fell below target.

This, according to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria, was the reason why four of the five police district directors in Metro Manila were relieved of their posts—a move he himself had recommended to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

“It’s not that crime statistics are rising. They go up and down, but of course there are requirements [these police officials must meet],” Valmoria said in an interview after presiding over the turnover of command at the NCRPO on Thursday.

In Camp Crame, Philippine National Police spokesperson Senior Supt. Wilben Mayor explained that the district directors were sacked “not necessarily because crime worsened in their areas” but because they did not meet the standards set by Roxas.

Mayor said these officials were given “scorecards” and a weekly target they should meet. “Usually, the aim is to lower [the figures]. Like if there were 10 robbery cases in an area, it should go down to 9 or 8. Even if it remains the same, the bottom line is that they didn’t meet the standards.”

In a rare mass replacement of the police top brass in capital, Roxas on Wednesday announced the following revamp:

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) head Chief Supt. Richard Albano was replaced by his deputy, Senior Supt. Joel Pagdilao; Chief Supt. Rolando Asuncion of the Manila Police District (MPD) was succeeded by Senior Supt. Rolando Nana;

Chief Supt. Henry Ranola was designated Southern Police District director in place of Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte; while Northern Police District (NPD) head Chief Supt. Edgardo Layon was replaced by Chief Supt. Jonathan Ferdinand Miano.

Only Chief Supt. Abelardo Villacorta of Eastern Police District retained his post.

Valmoria said Villacorta was not given the axe because he had the “best performance” and was also the “newest” district director out of the five. Villacorte and Albano, for example, were “already veterans” who took over their respective turf in 2013, he said.

He also noted that Asuncion assumed his post at the MPD in February this year, while Layon headed the NPD starting October last year. “The [tour of duty] is a minimum of six months and a maximum of two years,” he said.

Mayor said the former directors would be reporting to the office of PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima until new assignments are found for them.

“These are generals (the PNP equivalent of chief superintendents). They need to be posted. Their knowledge, skills and talents could still be used,” Mayor said.

For Villacorte, his sudden exit was just part of “regular procedure. It is included in the rotation [and] we just follow orders.”

Albano, meanwhile, was more elaborate in his parting words: “It has been a dream come true when I was trusted with the largest, busiest and most populated district in Metro Manila. Though a big responsibility, the job really challenged me in more ways that I can imagine,” he said in a Facebook post.

“There are no words to explain my utmost sense of fulfillment for every crime solved, every accomplishment… every single day that I’ve been in QCPD. Most of all, it really warms my heart whenever I receive comments and messages from the public who have always been supportive of our management,” he said.

‘’You do not know how much it means to me after long days of sleepless nights and too much stress,” the former QCPD chief added.