NCRPO: Complete background check for cops to be assigned to Caloocan

Every police officer to be assigned to Caloocan City will undergo a complete background investigation, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde said Wednesday.

“Mahigpit ang directive ng ating PNP chief [Director General Ronald dela Rosa] dito na lahat ng mag-volunteer na ma-assign sa Caloocan they will undergo complete background investigation,” Albayalde said in a press conference.

He said that this is to ensure that whoever will be assigned to the city—rocked by the recent killings of teenagers—are the best.

“We get people from other districts, ‘yung hindi patapon sa kanila na. Baka mamaya magalit yung taga-Caloocan kung ‘yung excess baggage ang dadalhin sa Caloocan,” he said.

Dela Rosa earlier asked police from Davao, General Santos City, and Cotabato to volunteer to be transferred to Caloocan, expressing confidence in the quality of the police officers from Regions 11 and 12.

He is hoping to get 1,000 volunteers.

“Alam ko ‘yung mga pulis sa Cotabato, General Santos, Davao [ay maayos magtrabaho]. Alam ko ang standard ng pamulis doon. Sigurado ako na pag pulis-Davao maganda ang upbringing, matino na pulis," he said.

Albayalde said that at present they are receiving offers from members of the Special Action Force and police from other regions to be transferred to Caloocan.

“Wala pang 100 ang nag-signify,” he said.

He said not all the police officers to be assigned to Caloocan will come from Regions 11 and 12.

“Kung gusto talaga nila, we will give them priority, although I am sure hindi nila ma-fill up ‘yung more than 1,000 na nandun kasi made-deplete nang husto ‘yung pwersa ng Region 11 and 12 kapag ‘yung lahat ng more than 1,000 e ‘yun ang i-deploy mo sa Caloocan,” he said.

The NCRPO chief earlier said the entire personnel of the Caloocan City Police district would be relieved from their posts following the deaths of Kian Loyd delos Santos and Carl Angelo Arnaiz, and police officers' raid on a house without a search warrant.

The Caloocan cops removed from their posts will undergo training, Albayalde added.

“Minimum is 30 days, pero actually 45 days ‘yan ‘yung re-training, reorientation, ethics and values formation na ginagawa namin, Balik sa Kampo program,” he said.

He said the re-training will be boosted and supported by the national headquarters.

“Sila ang nag-volunteer na magtrain sa mga ito which is better kasi kami ang kaya lang namin a few people talaga, probably 100 or 200 lang at a time. Hindi namin pwedeng isang bagsak na ire-train ‘yan,” he said.

Deputy Director General Archie Francisco Gamboa, PNP Directorial Staff chief, told GMA News Online Tuesday that they will launch the re-training in two weeks.

Dela Rosa said the re-training is aimed to review the former Caloocan cops on the rules of engagement, police operational procedures, the conduct of search and seizure operations, and on how leaders should handle their subordinates.

“Basta lahat ng police operation with emphasis sa observance of human rights at saka rule of law,” he said.

Albayalde said that 517 Caloocan police officers have already been removed.

“We started with all the [personnel at the] police community precincts kasi sila ang directly nag-ooperate sa baba. They have seven PCPs and, as of this time, five PCPs napapalitan na natin,” he said. — BM, GMA News