PNP area police commands to be abolished due to function duplication

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said its area police commands (APC) will be dissolved due to duplication of function, affecting over a hundred police personnel.

“According to our [chief PNP Police General Rommel Marbil], hindi naman po abrupt yung magiging deactivation po nito. So there will be some smooth transition,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said at a press briefing when asked about the concerned resolution of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).

[According to our [chief PNP Police General Rommel Marbil,] the deactivation would not be abrupt. There will be some smooth transition.]

The abolition of APCs for Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, the Visayas, Western Mindanao, and Eastern Mindanao is supposed to be implemented this month but Marbil requested for more time to avoid displacement of personnel.

“Ang mga affected po dyan ay around 158 po na second-level uniformed personnel po. At least 26 po na generela ang affected dyan,” she added.

(A total of 158 second-level uniformed personnel and at least 26 generals are affected.)

Most of the affected personnel will be reassigned to the newly created Negros Island Region Police Office, according to Fajardo.

“One of the considerations talaga na pinag-aralan why the PNP pushes for the dissolution po ng APC is yung duplication po ng function,” Fajardo said.

(One of the considerations that was really studied why the PNP pushes for the dissolution of the APC is the duplication of the function.)

“Ang mangyayari lang po doon, coordination scheme lang yung puwede nilang pakialaman pagdating po sa [internal security operation]-related operation including yung ating disaster-related operations, so that's the only time the APC could at least recommend for the deployment and employment ng ating mga mobile forces companies,” Fajardo said.

(The APCs can only deal with coordination schemes when it comes to the internal security operation-related operations including our disaster-related operations, so that's the only time the APC could at least recommend for the deployment and employment of our mobile forces companies.)

The functions of the APCs can be performed by regional offices, according to Fajardo. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News