CHANGING OF THE GUARDS. Newly designated Acting Director of Police Regional Office 11, Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal (left), formally accepts the position from Brig. Gen. Marcelo Morales (right) at Camp Quintin Merecido, Davao City on Tuesday (Oct. 22, 2019). Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, the officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police (center) facilitated the turnover ceremony. (PNA photo by Rhoda Grace Saron)
DAVAO CITY -- The newly designated acting chief of the Philippine National Police in Region 11 vowed to focus more on internal cleansing, a "zero tolerance" policy among police personnel involved in illegal drug activities and other crimes.
During the turnover ceremony on Tuesday here, Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal admitted that his new post would be "very challenging", but added that cleansing the police ranks would make the job easier.
"We need to cleanse because it has an impact on our campaign on anti-criminality and anti-illegal drugs and anti-terrorism," Escobal said.
Escobal said he will review the performance of city and provincial directors, down to the station commanders and chiefs of police.
"So I am challenging all the commanders and provincial directors, as well as the unit commanders, let's do our part and deliver what is expected from us, " he said.
He also vowed to maintain a “zero tolerance" policy against scalawags, saying the most "severe punishment" would be applied against any police personnel "who commits a crime or breaks a rule".
Meanwhile, outgoing commander, Brig. Gen. Marcelo Morales, now designated as the acting director of Police Security Protection Group (PSPG), thanked his personnel and officers and other law enforcement agencies and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the support during his stint as Police Regional Office director for Davao Region. (PNA)
