ILOILO City – In a renewed call for discipline, police officers in Western Visayas have been reminded not to engage with their cellular phones while on duty or patrol.
The directive follows a stern warning from Philippine National Police Chief General Rommel Marbil, emphasizing the prohibition of using phones for accessing Facebook and watching videos during work hours.
During a recent press briefing at Camp Crame, when questioned about his crime-prevention initiatives, Marbil issued a clear mandate: “This is my first and last warning: No cellphones during duties.”
The policy is part of broader efforts to maintain focus and enhance the efficiency of police operations.
Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), stressed the importance of this policy for operational effectiveness.
“The rule has been in place, but perhaps it lacked emphasis. I want to remind our personnel, especially those in the field and office roles, that their performance suffers when distracted by their cellphones,” Wanky explained.
He further announced that the PRO-6’s Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) would spearhead inspections to enforce compliance.
Personnel found violating this directive will face severe consequences.
“The RIAS will conduct red teaming to identify any breaches of our order. Cellphone use is permitted only for work-related purposes or in cases of important calls,” he added.
Red teaming, as described by Wanky, involves a comprehensive evaluation of plans, policies, systems, and assumptions through an adversarial approach, aiming to foster an external perspective within internal operations. This method is part of the strategy to ensure adherence to regulations and maintain high standards of duty performance./PN
