By Chito Chavez
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday said that heads will definitely roll in his bid to weed scalawag cops out of the police force.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año
(DILG / MANILA BULLETIN)
Año assured that corruption will not be allowed in all the attached agencies of the DILG and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
He made the assurance in compliance with the President’s order for him to supervise the procurement process of the PNP.
“I abide by the wisdom of the President and I will follow his instruction. Under my watch, I will not allow corruption in all the bureaus under DILG,” Año said.
President Duterte has called for a deeper probe on the potential overpricing in the radar speed guns project of the PNP, noting that a radar speed gun only costs P10,000 in Davao City. To his frustration, Duterte said the PNP proposed a budget of P950,000 for each.
But Año expressed belief the PNP made a “very glaring mistake” in its presentation, noting that the PNP has conducted all its procurement transactions properly in the last two years.
Nevertheless, Año directed PNP officer-in-charge (OIC) Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa to submit a report to the Chief Executive regarding the matter.
Año assured Duterte that he is ready to supervise the entire police force until a permanent PNP chief is appointed.
The DILG chief explained his supervision of the PNP is not a punishment to the police force but an effort to remove the few scalawags who are tarnishing the image of the force.
DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said only the President knows when the next permanent PNP chief will be appointed.
He also remained mum if the DILG secretary will supervise the PNP until the term of the President ends.