PNP to reassign 2K cops under localization program

FILE: ON STANDBY. Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) anti-riot unit barricade a portion of Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City on Monday (July 27, 2020) for the 5th State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte. They are wearing face masks and observing safe physical distancing in compliance with the government’s safety and health protocol amid the coronavirus disease pandemic. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – Some 2,000 police officers nationwide would be reassigned to their new assignments within the week as part of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) localization program in the deployment of personnel.

PNP chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan, in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Monday, said this mass movement of personnel initially covers inter-regional reassignment of personnel to their hometowns and places of permanent residence to give them a strong sense of ownership of their locality and in the process, induce better performance.

He said the National Capital Region Police (NCRPO) and Police Regional Office in Calabarzon (PRO-4A) have yet to fully implement the localization program pending some adjustments in the deployment and staffing structure of lower units to ensure that the mass movement will not create a void in the personnel complement of these regional offices.

“Let me emphasize that the underlying consideration in this localization program is the 1:1 replacement or swapping policy,” Cascolan told reporters during a press conference held at Camp Crame.

The Localization of Assignment program, initiated by the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM), is stated under Section 63 of Republic Act 8551 or the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.

The law indicates the provision for PNP members with the ranks of Patrolman/woman up to Police Executive Master Sergeant will be “assigned to the city and municipality of their recruitment and/or place of residence or if not possible, to the closest municipality, province or regions to his residence”.

“Assignment to one’s hometown, province, or region gives a police officer the sense of ownership of the locality that he represents. The said program will attain maximum efficiency and more effective law enforcement by prioritizing the welfare of every PNP personnel and reinforcing family solidarity,” Cascolan said.

He added that the program is the PNP leadership’s way to boost their morale and to tell police officers to do their best in performing their duty as law enforcers in their respective communities.

“This is one way to tell our personnel that we expect the best performance from them and to tell them that we are taking care of them,” he said.

Earlier, the DPRM is processing the requests for localization programs to fast-track their records for the swapping of personnel.

The DPRM also reminded requesting personnel that “only applicants who submitted an affidavit of undertaking availing the localization of assignment will be considered for processing”.

Applicants must also be cleared of money and property accountabilities from his/her present office or unit.

Once a reassignment order is released, the DPRM would no longer entertain requests for its cancellation.