Luneta police chief relieved over absence of tourist cops

The police station commander in Luneta, Manila was relieved from his post for failing to deploy tourist policemen in the famous destination in time for the Holy Week. Chief Inspector Efren Pangan, commander of the Luneta Police Community Precinct (PCP), was removed from his post after President Benigno Aquino III, in a recent inspection in Luneta, discovered that no police officer was making the rounds in the area. Police Director Nicanor Bartolome, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), has also ordered an investigation into the incident. Bartolome also ordered the deployment of 22 senior officers from the NCRPO, who will supervise the five police districts in Metro Manila. "They will inspect police deployments until the duration of Oplan Semana Santa," Bartolome said, adding that police forces will also be sent to churches and areas holding "pabasa." At the same time, Bartolome said the Philippine National Police (PNP) will start reducing its forces at bus terminals on Good Friday, even as the concentration of security deployments will shift to barangay patrols. The PNP will also coordinate with barangay (village) officials and tanods (watchmen) for joint patrols in different communities, Bartolome added. Pangan's relief came two days after Superintendent Virgilio Fabian, Cubao Station 7 commander, was similarly relieved from his post after it was found out that no police officer was manning the police help desk at the Araneta Center. Bartolome said he also found out that no police officers had also been deployed to nearby bus stations. In his defense, Fabian said he had recalled the deployment of his men at the time for an early morning formation, but Bartolome insisted Fabian should not have done that especially since the PNP is currently on full alert status. — with Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMA News