SIXTY-FIVE police and non-commissioned officers from the Police Regional Office XI were relieved and reassigned to various regions effective Nov. 25.
The personnel included seven police majors, one executive master sergeant, and a senior master sergeant (SMS) who were reassigned to Cagayan Valley (PRO II); Three staff sergeants, two corporals, and four captains were transferred to Mimaropa (PRO IV-B); and one major, two captains, one chief master sergeant, two EMS, and one SMS reassigned to the Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO CAR).
Meanwhile, six majors, one captain, and three staff sergeants were reassigned to the Bicol Region (PRO V).
Police Regional Office XI spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey confirmed earlier to TIMES that 11 officers and 20 police non-commissioned officers were also reassigned to the mentioned regional offices.
In an interview on Tuesday, Dela Rey explained: “Regarding the 65 personnel, if you recall, the first batch was relieved because they were under investigation for involvement in illegal drug operations where there was a fatality. The second batch, which involved many station commanders, was relieved due to incidents of double blotter entries. You may also remember that I was asked about a request for reassignment to PHAU—these names are part of that group, but the request was not approved. They still went through the process, and now, they have been reassigned to other regions instead of PHAU.”
When asked why 65 personnel were suddenly reassigned, Dela Rey stated: “I cannot answer that because the decision came from Camp Crame. However, they did go through the process before being reassigned. Since we are part of the national PNP, we can be reassigned at any time. It just so happens that 65 personnel were reassigned all at once.”
When asked if police operations would be affected, Dela Rey said: “Rest assured, the reassignment of the 65 PNP personnel from PRO XI to other regions will not hamper daily police operations in the Davao Region. The officers and non-officers remaining in the region will be able to cover the duties of the reassigned personnel, and it will not affect our law enforcement programs and activities.”
She added, “There is no information yet about replacements for the 65 personnel from other regions. As of now, it’s only the 65 personnel who have been reassigned.”
When asked why the reassigned personnel were sent to Cagayan Valley, PRO V, Mimaropa, and Bicol, Dela Rey responded: “It might be due to records in Camp Crame showing that these regions were short on officers and non-commissioned officers.”
She continued, “We are also monitoring the strength of personnel in various regions, and there are areas with a shortage of officers and personnel.”
Finally, when asked if the sudden reassignment was politically motivated due to the administration’s conflict with the Dutertes, Dela Rey clarified: “This is not about politics. The reassignment just happened to be approved now because it went through the proper process. It coincided with the current political tension involving the Dutertes, but it is not politically motivated in any way.”
Photo courtesy of PRO XI
