NEW CALABARZON TOP COP. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Officer-In-Charge (OIC), Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco F. Gamboa (center) turns over the symbolic regional command flag to incoming Police Regional Office 4-A (Calabarzon) director, Brig. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. (right) in a ceremony held at the Camp Gen. Vicente Lim, Calamba City, Laguna on Wednesday (Oct. 23, 2019). Danao replaces Brig. Gen. Edward Carranza, who was designated as new director of the PNP Logistics Support Service. (PNA photo by Saul E. Pa-a)
CAMP GEN. VICENTE LIM, Calamba City -- New director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4-A (Calabarzon), Brig. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr., on Wednesday, began his new assignment with the implementation of Operation Plan (OPLAN) LITIS as part of the intensified internal cleansing operations within police ranks.
“I would like to immediately implement ‘OPLAN LITIS’ to go after these personnel. Hindi lang paglilinis ng kriminal ang ating gagawin, isama na din natin ang paglilinis ng basura sa ating mismong kabahayan (We do not only weed out criminals, but clean up garbage in our homes as well),” he said.
Danao replaced Brig. Gen. Edward Carranza during a turnover ceremony presided by Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge (OIC), Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco F. Gamboa on Wednesday afternoon.
“Every time I assume (a new) office, ang lagi kong ginagawa is to purge and discipline my own unit. How can we implement things outside of our backyard, pag yung mismong bahay mo ay hindi mo kayang linisan (the first thing I do is to purge and discipline my unit. How can we implement things outside our backyard if we could not keep our own houses clean)?” he said.
Danao said OPLAN LITIS is for erring and stubborn cops, whether officers or non-commissioned officers.
He noted that if the police is strict on its enemies, especially criminals, then it should be stricter on its own ranks, especially the scalawags in uniform.
Danao said the purge should start “from top to bottom.”
Meanwhile, he described the turnover rite as the “start of the ERA for real change.”
“ERA stands for being an Example for others; R for being Responsible in all your actions; and A for always be Accountable for all that we do in the police service,” he said.
He also warned that the long arm of the law would extend to those who refuse to change their ways.
Danao, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘SAMBISIG’ Class of 1991, is a native of Nueva Vizcaya.
He had his first assignment as a lieutenant junior officer of the Regional Special Action Force (RSAF) in Surigao del Sur.
He then assumed the post of Commander of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Davao City Police Office in 1995 and rose to become the chief of the Davao City police during the time of then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte until 2016.
Prior to his new assignment, Danao served as Manila Police District director.
Meanwhile, Carranza will assume as the new director of the Logistics Support Service in Camp Crame.
“I am leaving my post as Regional Director of PRO-Calabarzon in high spirits, knowing that this region is in good hands with Police Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao at the steering wheel,” he said as he relinquished his office.
Gamboa, meanwhile, rallied the cops for unity among their ranks, inspiring them to weather the “storm” that has hit the PNP these days over issues on the “ninja cops.”
“To the men and women of PRO 4-A, you are blessed that the incoming and outgoing Regional Director were both of good service reputation coupled with outstanding educational achievements. We expect that there is always another storm that will come our way. Let us keep an eye on our next plans to withstand these trials,” he said. (PNA)
