By: Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Police Major Roberto Indiape, outgoing town police chief of Murcia Municipal Police Station in Negros Occidental, was administratively relieved from his post last Monday for allegedly failing to supervise his personnel inside the police station.
This was revealed yesterday by Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), in a regular press conference at their headquarters here.
Baleros said Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, recommended Indiape’s relief after a surprise inspection on the police station Monday evening.
Baleros said the regional director saw hanged uniforms and pillows in one of the offices at the second floor of the station.
“Our regional director is very particular when it comes to uniforms. The uniform should be hanged inside the cabinet. The police chief was not able to supervise his personnel kasi iyong office medyo magulo,” the provincial director added.
Baleros said Police Executive Master Sergeant Sulito Babe, who is the town’s deputy police chief, will be in charge of the police station while Nocppo finds a replacement for Indiape.
He said Indiape was moved to Nocppo headquarters directly under his office.
He also said that the two personnel who were caught hanging their uniforms will also be transferred to another police stations in towns of Hinoba-an and Candoni.
“He (Indiape) can return to his post, if results of the investigation prove that only his personnel did not follow the instructions of the higher office or if they indeed did not listen to their commander,” Baleros said.
He said that there are personnel who do not want to rectify their misdemeanor. “Parang ang hirap sa kanila na sumunod,” he added.
For his part, Indiape said he was personally informed about the relief order but he is waiting for the written order.
Indiape said he admitted the lapses on his part, but he explained that his personnel just forgot to hang their uniforms inside the locker.
Despite that, Indiape said he will not question the authority of the higher office for his relief.
Aside from Murcia, Pamuspusan also visited the police stations in La Castellana, Binalbagan, and Moises Padilla, and in the city of La Carlota, where he gave a commendation medal to the personnel for wearing their proper uniforms, and for the orderliness and cleanliness at the station.
Baleros said there were some minor defects seen in other police stations during the inspection but it can be addressed by their police chiefs.
Meanwhile, Baleros also reminded policemen to stop wearing their faded uniforms because it reflects their discipline in their work.
He said the government is allocating P14,000 to change the faded uniforms of each policeman every three years.
“How can the people respect the policeman? Kung sa uniform pa lang hindi ka na kagalang-galang. You should wear a uniform with good bearing, dignified appearance and behavior,” he said.
