He may have established his reputation as a strict disciplinarian but the new director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is a firm believer of girl power.
So in the coming days, it is not surprising that more female police officers would be assigned to occupy key posts and would even be tapped in the conduct of crime-busting operations, according to NCRPO chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas.
“Yes I will. I have done that in Region 7,” said Sinas when asked if he plans to appoint a female chief of police in stations and cities in Metro Manila.
Currently 15 to 20 percent of the 190,000 uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are women.
Most of them, however, are assigned in administrative duties, or deskwork.
In 2009, a female police general was assigned as the director of the Eastern Police District of Metro Manila, but she only stayed for five days because some of the male commanders could not accept that they were being led by a woman commander and due to internal politics.
The relief of the female police general was taken as a proof that the PNP is not yet ready for female police officers taking the job of their male counterparts.
But Sinas has a different point of view.
“Why not utilize them in operational aspect? Why relegate them to administrative when they could share or do their job for operation, competing their male counterpart?,” said Sinas.
“I know they could do it. I have tested it, I have proven it and they are also good in investigation and supervising our people,” he stressed.
FEMALE TOP COMMANDERS
While the commander of the Central Visayas regional police, Sinas had appointed Police Col. Royina Garma as the director of the Cebu City police.
Garma then became the symbol of police defiance against then Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena.
Garma was then tapped by President Duterte to head the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office amid allegations of massive corruption.
Aside from Garma, Sinas also appointed a female police officer, Col. Angela Rejano, as the provincial director of Siquijor.
It was also Sinas who also approved the proposal of Rejano to have an all-female police station in the province of Siquijor, particularly in the coastal town of Maria.
Called as Mariang Pulis, the 21-woman strong Maria Municipal Police Station is led by Police Capt. Judith Besas. It was launched last month.
“This move will strongly advance women empowerment in promoting public safety and security services at all levels of police units and offices in the region,” Sinas was quoted saying. (Aaron Recuenco)
