Pubdate: Fri, 05 Jul 2002
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Section: Headline News
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2002
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Jaime Laude, with Marichu Villanueva

EBDANE TOLD: END KIDNAPPING, INTRIGUE

President Arroyo called for a halt to internal bickering in the Philippine 
National Police (PNP) brought about by a scramble for juicy positions as 
the nation's police force changed command yesterday.

Mrs. Arroyo also gave Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., who took over 
the PNP helm from Leandro Mendoza, one year to curb the rash of 
kidnappings-for-ransom plaguing the country.

Mendoza took his oath as secretary of the Department of Transportation and 
Communications yesterday.

To leave no room for excuses, Mrs. Arroyo dissolved the National Anti-Crime 
Commission (NACC) and the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF).

"I'm giving Jun Ebdane the total accountability and responsibility for 
kidnapping, and I've challenged him to eliminate kidnapping in one year," 
Mrs. Arroyo said in a ceremony at Camp Crame, adding that Ebdane had 
"accepted the challenge."

In his acceptance speech, Ebdane vowed to "make crime very dangerous for 
criminals."

Mrs. Arroyo said the success rate in resolving kidnappings reached 63 
percent last year with Ebdane as deputy police chief and head of the NAKTAF.

Ebdane said earlier he would resign if he failed to reduce the kidnapping 
rate. Feeling bound by Mrs. Arroyo's commitment, Ebdane added that he 
"would even remind her" of her statement when a year elapses.

However, unless the PNP's top officials stop bickering among themselves, 
Mrs. Arroyo said, the police would be unable to do their job.

She urged the PNP to "get rid of the division and intrigue that is 
threatening to rip the organization."

"In all candor, I think we do have some operational problems that we have 
to address, you and I. We are in this together and we must be united to 
face the challenge. The first thing we must do to unite and take the 
challenge is to get rid of internal politics," she said.

"I call on all of you senior officers of the PNP to think of the 
institution, think of the country. Let us get our act together. Let us get 
our job done," the President added.

According to Camp Crame sources, the change of command and the recent 
sacking of seven top police officials for their reported failure to curb 
jueteng set off a scramble for positions by high ranking police officials.

The rift has reportedly divided officials loyal to Ebdane on one side and 
Mendoza on the other.

Under her administration's new policy of "command responsibility" in 
cleaning up the police force, Mrs. Arroyo said commanders would be held 
accountable for their officers' lackluster performance.

"For errant cops, the commander will share the blame. As I said, the more 
the bungling happens, the higher the command responsibility goes. But the 
same for good things. For good cops, the commander will share the credit," 
she said.

Mrs. Arroyo yesterday ordered Ebdane to convene a "summit" on Tuesday to 
map out a plan in combating kidnapping and illegal drugs.

The scope of the police commanders' responsibility will also be defined at 
the summit, Mrs. Arroyo said, after which "there will be no more excuses" 
for failure.

After the sacking of the seven top police officials, Mrs. Arroyo earlier 
promised a wider revamp of the PNP if the police fail to rein in 
kidnappings and crimes involving illegal drugs.

Mrs. Arroyo also vowed her administration's commitment to improve police 
salaries and benefits as well as improved facilities and more equipment for 
the force.

Ebdane vowed to root out rogue police officers from the force, crack the 
whip on lackadaisical officers, and provide better training.

Pledging to see to it that "our families are safe" on the streets, Ebdane 
said he would introduce reforms and expect commanders to be tough on their 
officers.

"There is no room in the PNP for indecisive chiefs and directors who refuse 
to exercise their disciplinary authority, disciplinary measures will be 
imposed without exception in all levels of leadership," he said.

To win back public trust on the police force and bring down the incidence 
of crime, Ebdane yesterday ordered commanders to come up with a "program of 
action" to elicit cooperation from the community.

"If the PNP is to perform its mandate, we must learn from our mistakes and 
do our best," he said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth