President vows to upgrade PNP equipment: ‘No second-hand’

MANILA, Philippines — President Aquino surprised officials on Monday when he ordered the National Police Commission to expedite the process of promoting Police Inspector Charity Galvez, chief  of the Trento municipal police station in Agusan del Sur, during the 110th Philippine National Police Service anniversary in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

In his speech, President Aquino was citing this year’s police service awardees, who included Galvez, when he wondered aloud why she was still an inspector after her heroic deed last month when she led her men in fighting a large group of New People’s Army members in her hometown.

“I just want to ask Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo why is it that before the incident, (Galvez) was an inspector and she did a good job and still, she is an inspector? It seems that it’s taking a while for her to become senior inspector,” the President said, eliciting laughter and cheers from the audience.

Mr. Aquino then said it was a good thing that officials of the National Police Commission were present so that they could immediately work on her promotion, which he vowed to confirm.

In his speech, President Aquino also took a dig at former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo when he pointed out his administration’s bid to modernize the PNP, particularly by purchasing new equipment for the police.

“Pag sinabi ko na bibili ng bago, hindi eto pinagsawaan ng sinumang Herodes (When I say we will buy brand new, it means these equipment have not been worn down by some Herod),” Mr. Aquino said, apparently in reference to Arroyo who has been accused of selling second-hand helicopters to the PNP in 2009 but passing them off as brand new.