CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – The Philippine National Police seemed to have overlooked the “internal discipline” of its members, while it was busy waging the so called “war on illegal drugs” of the administration, Police Director General Oscar Albayalde said during the turn over ceremony Tuesday of the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) police to its new regional director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar.
“Over the years we have neglected this … internal discipline … and the people have seen that,” the newly installed chief said.
Reiterating his earlier pronouncements, Albayalde said his focus would be on “scalawags” or policemen involved in criminal activities.
“We’ve been doing anti-drugs, anti-criminality for the past 20 months … it’s already there. Probably what we’ve forgotten was internal cleansing and internal discipline,” he said.
He warned erring policemen that he would not hesitate to suspend or kick them out of the service once caught engaging in illegal activities.
“Let me make one thing clear: ang ginagawa nating ito, hindi para epal, hindi para sumikat … I will not demand loyalty, but I expect obedience,” he said.
Eleazar was the former chief of the Quezon City police district.
Outgoing regional director Chief Supt. Ma O Aplasca was appointed PNP Director for Operations.