‘DON’T SMOKE, TEXT OR SLEEP’

ILOILO City – While on duty and in uniform, policemen should not smoke, text or sleep. This is part of the “organizational discipline” that the new director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) wants to impose on Western Visayas policemen.

Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, the former Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson, formally assumed his Region 6 assignment yesterday with a vow to impose organizational discipline and continue his predecessor’s internal cleansing program.

“I was given by our PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, the blanket authority to reshuffle personnel, especially those not performing well and those engaged in illegal activities,” said Bulalacao, a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s (PMA) Maringal Class of 1988.

The PRO-6, he stressed, must continue to enjoy the public’s trust and confidence.

The turnover of command ceremony at the PRO-6 grandstand, Camp Delgado was officiated by Director Rolando Felix of the PNP’s Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Visayas.

“The instructions of our PNP chief are very clear. Ayaw namin nag patulog-tulog na pulis, nagso-smoke while on duty at nagte-text sa maraming tao,” said Bulalacao.
His other thrusts were the campaigns against illegal drugs and crimes and curbing if not totally stopping the involvement of policemen in illegal activities such as drug pushing or using.

“My actions shall be anchored on the guidance of the PNP chief emphasizing internal reforms and organizational discipline. Under my watch, I will see to it that organizational discipline is imposed to have integrity and individual reform,” said Bulalacao.

Policemen must stay away from gambling dens such as cockpits and casinos, and refrain from “moonlighting” or taking on sidelines, he stressed.

REVIEW

According to Bulalacao, “All reforms that I intend to initiate will be implemented with me setting the example.”

Bulalacao had served as deputy director of the PNP’s Logistics Support Service and Chief of Staff of the Civil Security Group, assistant chief of the Firearms and Explosives Office, and police provincial director of Cavite.

“I shall set high expectations for performance, but I will be fair and just. I will match the right person to the right position,” he said.

There will be a regular evaluation of provincial and city police directors and station commanders.

“Good deeds and exemplary performance will be quickly acknowledged and rewarded, while mediocre performance and misbehavior will be swiftly sanctioned and not tolerated,” said Bulalacao.

He declared as taboo “all forms of influence peddling” especially in the assignment and promotion process.

Bulalacao assured policemen he was open to suggestions to further improve the PRO-6.

“I’m ready to listen. I solicit inputs. I’m a consultative kind of leader,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Bulalacao’s predecessor Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag was given a higher post – acting director of the PNP’s Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management in Camp Crame.

Police officers normally have a two-year tour of duty in a particular assignment. Binag marked his first year at the PRO-6 only this May 15. But lately there were a lot of retirements in the PNP top brass and these resulted to a reshuffling.

“I have so many god memories and experiences here. I am so thankful to the Ilonggos for accepting me and for the cooperation of the men and women of the PRO-6,” said Binag.

He urged them to support and cooperate with Bulalacao.

“Sana mapatuloy ng ating kapulisan ang pagtulong sa kapwa na walang pinili kahit anong estado sa buhay. They should also remain disciplined, hardworking and polite,” added Binag./PN