By Aaron Recuenco
This early, national police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has ordered all police commanders to refrain from holding drinking session inside and at the premises of police stations and offices for the coming Yuletide season.
PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
But he was quick to clarify that police stations are allowed to hold Christmas parties and other programs, especially if the parties are related to gift-giving to children in the spirit of Christmas.
“Parties are not prohibited. What we prohibit is drinking,” said Albayalde.
“It is inappropriate that our countrymen would see our police personnel drinking or are drunk inside the police station especially if they enter inside the police station to lodge complaint,” he added.
The national police, it was recalled, have intensified the implementation of ordinances of local government units pertaining to smoking, drinking in public places and curfew.
In Metro Manila alone, more than 450,000 were already arrested since the operations were carried out starting in June this year. Some seven percent of those arrested are related to drinking in public places.
Albayalde also reminded the policemen not to engage in any solicitation for their Christmas parties.
“It is prohibited also. Not only even probably with the PNP but I know even other government agencies are implementing it. That’s against the ethics of government employees,” said Albayalde.