PNP OIC bans cops from playing golf on weekdays

Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa on Wednesday directed all policemen, including officials, to avoid playing golf during weekdays.

“I am now declaring that there will be no more golf during weekdays, nobody is exempted... starting from the OIC down to the lowest mammal in the Philippine National Police,” Gamboa told reporters in Camp Bagong Diwa.

“If you see them play golf, tell me. I will deal with them directly,” he added.

Gamboa said he would allow police officials to play golf during weekends as some of them play golf as their sport. “‘Yung weekends naman, huwag na nating ano, that’s part of their sports. Open naman ako sa sports but not on weekdays,” he said.

Gamboa said he made the directive as golf takes too much time of the policemen.

“How much do you spend when you play golf for 18 holes? Four hours so di mo matapos,” Gamboa said.

This was echoed by newly-appointed National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas, noting that the minimum time for playing golf is four hours.

“Bawal kasi mag-golf kasi nga ang golf kasi it takes time. Ang minimum diyan is four hours. Imagine ang mga tao namin maglalaro ng alas-siyete, matapos ‘yan 11... mapagod ‘yan, maligo pa ‘yan. Ano ng oras ‘yan magre-report?” Sinas said.

Sinas, former chief of the Central Visayas police, also said golf is an expensive activity for cops.

“I don’t want ‘yung mga pulis nagfo-focus doon. I will not tolerate it. This will ano, saan kukuha ang pulis?” Sinas said.

Asked what would be the penalty for cops who will violate the order, Gamboa said: “I have now the power to appoint and relieve people from positions starting from three-star down.” —KBK, GMA News