SAME OLD, SAME OLD: New top cop bares priorities in W. Visayas

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

The new Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director, Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, will be adopting the same old battlecry of his predecessors.

Miranda, who succeeded Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, said he will focus his leadership on illegal drugs, internal cleansing, criminality, illegal gambling, and corruption.

“It will be a relentless campaign on illegal drugs. I encourage all the men and women of PRO-6 to join me in this campaign,” he said.

Miranda said the regional and the provincial headquarters will focus their operations on the high value targets that are listed by PRO-6.

The municipal police stations will focus on the street level targets.

“Hindi na po tayo papayag na ang hinuhuli natin ay yung inilista at hindi kasama sa drugs watchlist,” he said.

Miranda said they will closely work with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and other law enforcement agencies, like the National Bureau of Investigation, in ending the illegal drug problem in Western Visayas.

He also sought the help of the public and other stakeholders stressing that the problem on illegal drugs is a “shared responsibility.”

As part of the anti-illegal drugs campaign, Miranda said that he would conduct regular testing of police officers “so that I will have peace of mind na ang ating alagad ng batas ang mga pulis sa Western Visayas ay hindi nagkakaroon ng problema sa ilegal na droga.”

All police officers who will be assigned to the anti-illegal drugs campaign will undergo a proper vetting process to make sure that their integrity is not tainted.

On illegal gambling, Miranda said there would be a “no take” on all forms of illegal gambling in Western Visayas.

He said they would only support the authorized agent corporations (AACs) allowed by the government.

Meanwhile, the anti-criminality group will adopt the enhanced managing police operation (EMPO).

“We just need to enhance and implement the Police and memorandum of the higher headquarters,” he said.

Miranda also wants to intensify search warrants and service of warrants of arrests of ten most wanted persons.

He also stressed the importance of putting a sense of security to the community.

”Public perception is important. I want our community to feel secure and know that policemen are working,” he said.

On internal cleansing, Miranda said that he would make sure that police are working according to the mandate.

“All infractions of the law must be dealt with accordingly. Those who are guilty must need to be punished while those who are not must be exonerated,” he said.

He also vowed to intensify the campaign to end local terrorist before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.