Director General Ronald dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police, ordered yesterday his men, particularly generals and other senior officials, to refrain from playing golf during office hours.
“From now on, I will prohibit playing golf during office hours. I don’t want to see any policeman playing golf during office hours. Be mad at me if you want but for me, you have to prioritize your duty,” Dela Rosa said in a speech during the flag-raising ceremony yesterday.
Dela Rosa also barred policemen from cockpits, casinos, and other gambling places.
“If I ever heard or see policemen inside casino or cockfighting places, malilintikan kayo sa akin,” said Dela Rosa.
The warning drew cheers and applause from the crowd of policemen and civilian personnel present during the flag-raising ceremony, prompting Dela Rosa to joke that they may know some police officers guilty of his warnings.
While he understands that some policemen need additional work for their family, Dela Rosa also warned them from moonlighting especially during working hours. Some cops would not report to duty to serve as security officer or escort of Very Important Persons.
“As commanders, we have to account for all of our men. Those who are moonlighting, they should wear their uniform and be deployed on the streets to conduct patrol,” said Dela Rosa.
“We are being paid by the government to work and not to moonlight. Let me make this clear: Crime rate rises because of lack of policemen on the street and why we are lacking policemen? Because they tend to rest more than work,” he added. (Aaron B. Recuenco)