MANILA – The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional command has ordered his five PNP district directors to dismantle police detachments, more popularly known as “mayors’ squads,’ to level the playing field in the coming May 2010 elections.
Deputy Director Roberto Rosales, the head of the National Capital Region (or Metro Manila) command, said the five district directors have until January 7 to dismantle these squads.
Rosales said this is in line with the order of Director General Jesus Verzosa, the head of the 125,000-strong PNP, for the removal of police detachments located inside or beside the city or municipal halls in metropolis.
Metro Manila is composed of 15 cities and one town with a total population of about 12 million.
About 12,000 officers and men are assigned to Metro Manila under the Manila Police District, Quezon City Police District, Eastern Police District, Northern Police District and Southern Police District.
Rosales warned there would be no extension of the deadline and that he would not entertain any political or religious intervention regarding the order.
“I am just following orders. There will be no sacred cows,†said Rosales, a much decorated veteran police officer whose exploits included the arrest of a town mayor in Quezon province in Southern Luzon, who was attempting to bring to Metro Manila several kilogrammes of heroine loaded into a government ambulance.
In his order, Verzosa called for the abolition of these police detachments, known as the mayors’ squads, following reports that the incumbent officials are using them to raid or harass their political rivals or their supporters in the polls scheduled in May.
In other instances, Verzosa disclosed he also received complaints that members of these squads have been engaged in extortion activities or have tieups with criminal elements operating in their areas.
For his part, Rosales revealed that to go around the Verzosa dismantling order, the police detachments have been renamed “public assistance centers.â€
But Rosales insisted that despite their new name, such police detachments continue to operate and retain their original functions as mayors’ squads.
He warned that after the January 7 deadline, police officers and men still reporting to the detachments would be dealt with accordingly.
Rosales did not elaborate but he hinted this could result in the summary dismissal or suspension of the policemen concerned or the filing of administrative charges against them.
To achieve this, Rosales said the PNP officers and men serving in these squads are to report to the holding centers of the five Metro Manila police districts before they are given new assignments.
The policemen are to bring with them the firearms and equipment issued to them by the PNP, according to Rosales.
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