New QCPD head wants erring policemen to undergo ‘counseling’

PAGDILAO

MANILA, Philippines–The new head of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will be keeping close tabs on bad eggs under his jurisdiction.

Senior Supt. Joel Pagdilao took over as director on Friday, replacing Chief Supt. Richard Albano, who was recently ordered relieved for failing to reduce crime in the area during his tenure of one year and nine months.

Pagdilao takes over as the QCPD, despite having solved high-profile cases during Albano’s time, faces a dent in its public image in the wake of the controversial daytime robbery-extortion along Edsa last September. The crime was believed committed by personnel of the QCPD Station 1 in La Loma.

At the turnover ceremonies at the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal on Thursday, Pagdilao was asked by the media how he would prevent similar incidents in the future.

Pagdilao revealed that he keeps a “list” of those who are “losing their way” as evidenced by complaints against them.

Pagdilao, formerly a QCPD deputy director for administration, said that during his last stint at the QCPD, “I was focused on these so-called scalawag policemen.”

“We will have their station chiefs counsel them first. There’s another side to policemen. They have families. They may have [personal] problems. So if there’s a problem [against them], at least we know their background,” Pagdilao said.

Pagdilao also said he used to send Camp Karingal’s parish priest to counsel erring policemen at the stations—though this errand also has a veiled edge. “I send him to talk to them so they also know they are being watched by the camp,” Pagdilao said.

However, this does not mean the QCPD will take it easy on its erring members. “The full force of the law will fall on them. If they deserve to be dismissed, they will be dismissed outright,” Pagdilao assured.

Pagdilao said his first marching order would be to reduce crime in Quezon City, a feat which was apparently not achieved by Albano, according to standards of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

Pagdilao, however, urged the community to take an active role in crime prevention, as he admitted the police force is “undermanned.”

“We have many strategies for crime prevention, but one of the most important is the participation of the community, especially in reporting crime or suspicious behavior. We need their cooperation,” Pagdilao said.

Albano agreed: “Considering the size of the city, [with a police-civilian ratio of] 1 is to 900, there needs to be enhanced participation from the community for increased crime prevention,” he said in an interview.

Pagdilao said he had “big shoes to fill,” following Albano.

Albano and Pagdilao both belong to the Philippine Military Academy Maharlika Class of 1984.

Before being assigned to the QCPD, Pagdilao was assigned to the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation for Southern Visayas.

Pagdilao is the younger brother of former chief of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and now party-list Rep. Samuel Pagdilao.