CATBALOGAN, Samar –
Despite the obvious political tug-of-war taking place in the province
of Samar which apparently resulted to the relief of former SSupt.
Arcadio Lelis from his post as Samar Provincial Police Office (SPPO)
chief last month, the new SPPO director SSupt. Ibdalih Adja Abah
assured the Samareños that the PNP will remain on the fence as the
protector of the people.
It can be recalled
that Cong. Reynaldo Uy of Samar’s 1st district admitted earlier of
having a hand in SSupt. Lelis’ relief (news), although this was denied by the
PNP hierarchy, including the new SPPO chief here who told that SSupt.
Lelis’ relief from SPPO is part of his promotion in his police career.
“I could have gotten
the post as Chief of Staff at the PNP regional headquarters in
Tacloban City but he is more senior than me, that is why he was chosen
to head that office and I was transferred here in Samar”, SSupt. Abah
clarified.
In the recent CCATMAN
Weekly Kapehan here, the new SPPO chief put in the picture that the
Samar PNP will remain neutral and unbiased, and will continue to
function as servant of the people which is being mandated by the
constitution, after being informed of Cong. Uy’s statement of
influencing the recent local PNP movement in the province.
“Alam ko ang mga isyu
na nangyari kay SSupt. Lelis, and his experience is a learning point
for us, na dapat dumistansiya talaga tayo sa mga personal na interes
ng kung sinuman sa ating komunidad, at itaguyod lamang ang tama ng
walang pasubali at pag-aalinlangan”, SSupt. Abah stressed.
He likewise informed
media that he will continue the programs and reforms initiated by
SSupt. Abah, and would further infuse new programs which he believes
is needed by the PNP to be able to get along the present needs of the
Samareños.
30 days of visits
Barely 2 days after
assumption into office as the new SPPO chief, SSupt. Abah was able to
visit and inspect the readiness of at least 22 out of 26 municipal
police stations against CPP-NPA raids.
He told that based on
his assessment majority of the police stations in his jurisdiction are
ready and capable of defending their respective grounds supposed NPA
raids will take place, but reserved the prospect that lightning
attacks might be one of the only possibilities that government enemies
can over-run a police precinct.
“Although kahit
sorpresa pa ang atake, basta’t makakita lang ng opportunity ang mga
pulis natin na makalaban, I am 100% sure that no NPA rebels can
over-run any police station. I would like to cite the case of San Jose
de Buan, tatlo lang ang nasa estasyon noon when it was raided, pero
lumaban iyong mga pulis natin kaya hindi ito napasok ng mga kalaban”,
he explained, and further urged all municipal police chiefs to
manifest readiness in their respective turfs.
