NCRPO says they only distributed food, no cash during papal visit

Pope Francis visits a family of survivors in Tacloban (Malacacang Photo Bureau)

MANILA – Yesterday, an official revealed that the five police district directors from Metro Manila never gave out a single centavo of the P2,400 allowance for police officers who were assigned as security during the visit of Pope Francis.

National Capital Region Police Officer (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said that these official only distributed food packs to the police officers so that they will not leave their assigned posts.

“The district directors did not keep the money but spent them for food allocations for their men involved in the security of Pope Francis,” said Valmoria.

He added, “Not a single cent reached the hands of the policemen because their superiors decided on an organized messing to prevent them from leaving their posts and getting hungry.”

Valmoria was referring to Chief Superintendent Henry Rañola Jr. of the Southern Police District, Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Chief Superintendent Abelardo Villacorta of the Eastern Police District (EPD), Chief Superintendent Jonathan Miano of the Northern Police District (NPD) and Senior Superintendent Rolando Nana of the Manila Police District (MPD).

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said that they are already looking at this issue.

There are police officers on Police Digest sa FB’s Facebook page who said that they haven’t received food or money during the Papal visit, whereas some claimed that they only got P120.

Meanwhile members of the Police Security and Protection Group said that they only got P700 from the P2,400 allowance promised to them. PSPG budget officer Superintendent Evangeline Martos has been suspended because of the delay in food endowment to the police officials.