C-130 plane carrying 53 erring cops arrives in Zamboanga City

The first batch of erring cops reassigned to Basilan by President Rodrigo Duterte have arrived in Zamboanga City on Monday on board the military's C-130 transport plane.

A report by GMA News' Jay Sabale on Balitanghali showed 53 cops assembling at Camp Bagong Diwa around 4 a.m. before their flight to Mindanao.

Thirty-four of the 53 cops are from the National Capital Region Police Office, the report added.

The batch of cops, dubbed as Task Force Basilan, will serve as an added force in the Basilan Provincial Police Office.

The erring cops are facing criminal charges as well as administrative cases such as tardiness and absences.

Duterte earlier ordered the reassignment of more than 200 erring cops in Metro Manila to Basilan for two years. 

On Saturday, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa confirmed the deployment. 

The report said the erring cops deposited their issued firearms, which will only be given once they arrive in Basilan.

"We will just comply with the order of our Chief PNP. Sa mga mahal namin sa buhay, trabaho lang ito," one erring cop said.

The cops also brought with them basic requirements such as their personal data sheet, IDs, food, and their personal belongings.

Directorate for Personnel and Records Management chief Sr. Supt. Oliver Enmodias said a second batch is scheduled to depart for Mindanao next week.

"Next week baka may susunod pa. Supportive naman kami sa kanila sa pag-alis nila. Tutulong din sila in one way or another sa area," Enmodias said. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KG, GMA News