By Martin Sadongdong
The director general of the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed Wednesday that talk of a looming reshuffle within the ranks is true and it is coming any time soon.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde admitted that after several meetings and deliberations with the national oversight committee at the police headquarters in Camp Crame, a reshuffle will be made among the ground commanders.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde (Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Kaninang umaga we had an oversight committee meeting and we have decided, number one, to warn 'yung mga nakita natin na below par 'yung kanilang performance at 'yung mga sabihin nating hindi pa naka-align sa ating program thrusts (Early Wednesday morning, we had an oversight committee meeting and we have decided, number one, to warn those whose performances are below par and what we call those who are not yet aligned with our program thrusts)," Albayalde said in a media forum in Malate, Manila.
Pressed for answers if there will indeed be a reshuffle, Albayalde finally answered, "I think there will be."
However, Albayalde did not name names on those who would be included in the reshuffle.
Since Albayalde assumed the position of being the country's top cop mid-April, he had consistently maintained that there is no need for a reshuffle especially if the commanders are doing their jobs well -- until his pronouncements Wednesday.
However, he still said that not all police officers who would be included in the reshuffle are non-performers.
"'Yung iba naman ay talagang may mag reretire na so kailangan ng kapalit at 'yung iba ay talagang retirable na rin. Ang iba two years na sa pwesto so kailangan i-assign na sa iba (Others are having an retirement so a replacement is needed and there are those who are already reached the mandatory retirement age. Others are already serving in their posts for two years so we need to assign them to another place)," Albayalde explained.
"This reshuffle is forthcoming," he concluded.
Last week, Albayalde said that his primary mandate to all the ground commanders is "continuity" or to continue the programs initiated by his predecessor, former PNP chief and now Bureau of Corrections Director Ronald dela Rosa.
As such, he had ordered the national oversight committee to monitor, evaluate and deliberate on the performances of all the ground commanders to check whether or not they are complying with the mandate that was given them.