Verzosa take oath as new Chief PNP, to create groups of policemen in Mindanao

Miami
September 27, 2008
Story: Verzosa take oath as new Chief PNP, to create groups of policemen in Mindanao

Police Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa already assumes the office as the 15th Chief of the Philippine National Police at the turnover or Change of Command ceremony at the PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

He replaced Police Director General Avelino Razon who retires, September 27 at the age of 56, the mandatory age of retirement for policemen.

During the press conference, Verzosa said that there will be readjustment of deployment of policemen in Mindanao.

“There will be additional resources, additional assets and investigative personnel that will be in place there (Mindanao),” Verzosa told the reporters.

At present, there are already two battalions of Special Action Force (SAF) and Regional Mobile Group at the critical areas of Midanao.

The new Chief PNP also said that he will be creating interim organization, “Integrating the different regions in certain areas in Mindanao” that will be in close coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

As explained by Verzosa, the interim organization will coordinate with police mobile forces, movements and the conduct of operations in relation of law enforcement, pursuit and combat operations of that would lead to the arrest ofrebels Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commanders Ameril Umbra Kato, Abdurrahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo, and Aleem Solaiman alias Commander Pangalian.

He said that the interim organization will also facilitate field training programs on tactical defense and offense to efficiently carry out police and military operations against Kato, Bravo, and Pangalian.

On her speech, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that the PNP is expected in making sure that Mindanao remains peaceful.

“It is in the interest of all not just to have peace in streets free from crime but also to end the violence that has held the southern part of our country,” the president said.

In addition, Verzosa said that he will go back with the supervision and inspection of their units and be able to make a leader in all level of commands. “We will develop leaders in all levels of command. We will see to it that the Regional Director, District Director, Provincial Director, Chief of Police, will be visiting their units, their offices and men in the field. I encourage visiting the men in the field and talk to them and probably talk to the populace to know what is happening at the different areas. This will be done nationwide. We will develop leaders in all our officers. Those who cannot cope with it, will be transfer to some administration offices.”

Among his plans is to continue on the project that he started with the Program Management Office which he heads, this is the model police station. With this there will be institution development by developing facilities and equipments of the police stations human resources in the police itself such as spiritual development, basic habits and traits and physical and mental development; then citizen empowerment to bring to the people to go to police stations exercise their rights, free to enter the police stations, must be allowed to say what they see.