PNP eyes P15M for renovation of police lodging quarters

Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Philippine National Police is expecting to receive P15 million worth of funds for the repair and refurbishment of the Kiangan Hall in Camp Crame, which serves as lodging quarters of policemen.

In an interview with radio station DZMM, PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said the restoration of Kiangan Hall was one of the priority projects he endorsed to Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II in February.

“Isinama po natin diyan (priority projects) ang Kiangan Hall dahil nga po napakaluma na, eh ginagamit po ng mga pulis lalo na ‘yung mga galing sa probinsya,” Espina said. (We included Kiangan Hall’s restoration in our priority projects because of its old state. The facility is being used by our policemen in Metro Manila, especially those coming from the provinces.)

Espina said he followed up the request for funds about two week ago, adding that PNP is expecting the decision on the request in the coming weeks.

“The total requested amount for refurbishment is around P15 million,” he said. “That’s why we are following it up for us to allocate appropriate funds.”

It can be remembered that the Kiangan Hall earned a spotlight during the Senate hearings last September on the allegedly overpriced “White House,” the official residence of the PNP chief which was renovated during the term of then-PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima.

READ: PNP ‘White House’ construction ’above board’

Senators lamented how Purisima allowed his friends to “donate” large sums of money for the renovation of the “White House” despite the relatively poorer condition of the PNP General Hospital and the Kiangan Hall, which reportedly lacked equipment and facilities. IDL