WALK THE TALK Police commanders warned: Resolve crimes or be relieved

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) director Brigadier General Alden Delvo issued a strong warning to police commanders on Wednesday that those who will fail to resolve crimes will be relieved from their post.

It can be recalled that Delvo relieved former Tagum City Police chief Lieutenant Colonel Edgardo Bernardo following a series of incidents involving two women who went missing and were later found dead.

Bernardo only served as Tagum City police chief for two months.

“Not only directed to Tagum City but the entire Davao Region na in case my sunod sunod na significant incidents like rape or murder na hindi ma resolve ng ating mga commanders maaari silang ma relieve sa kanilang puwesto,” said Lt. Col. Eudisan Gultiano, spokesperson of PRO 11, during the AFP PNP Press Corps media briefing on Wednesday at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

The removal of Bernardo irked Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy claiming he was bypassed by PRO 11 in relieving Bernardo.

“Unsay rason nga pulihan man ang atong COP? Doing good man si Bernardo. Pila ka buy bust na dinagko diri sa Tagum, ga roving na siya, gasuroy sa mga barangay ug gapanawag sa mga kapitan. Mao na ang mahina? Wala man silay koordinasyon sa akoa, ila kong gi bypass, sa akong hunahuna kaya na nilang mubarog. Wala lang tan-awa sa provincial director ug regional director ang ayuda sa city sa police station sama sa sakyanan, krudo, bugas, office supplies, ug sibilyan na mga empleyado,” Uy said in a video message shared online.

Last Thursday, the local government unit (LGU) of Tagum withdrew its support to the Tagum Police Station after Bernardo was relieved from his position.

Gultiano explained that the LGUs have participation in the operation of the PNP but in terms of administrative function of the police officers, it is the discretion

BARMM eyes 95% immunization coverage against polio, measles

Health frontliners in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are aiming to immunize at least 95 percent of children against polio and measles.

Health Undersecretary Dr. Abdullah Dumama Jr., has assured that the vaccines are safe, effective and free, and have undergone studies by experts for quality and effectiveness.

of the police regional director.

“Siguro nagkaroon lang ng miscommunication but that is not the intention of the police regional director,” she said.

On Tuesday, Delvo held a courtesy call to Uy at the motorpool in Magugpo, Tagum City. Also present during the meeting was Davao del Norte vice governor De Carlo “Oyo” Uy.

“We are hoping na maging maayos na ang lahat and we are waiting for the mayor’s action kung ano ang magiging decision niya ulit sa kanyang pag withdraw ng suporta,” Gultiano said.

On Wednesday, the LGU of Tagum has returned the police cars to the Tagum City Police Station.

Meanwhile, Delvo also met with Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib.

“Nag courtesy call na ang aming regional director kay governor (Jubahib) at mayor (Uy) and so far maayos ang kanilang pag-uusap and we are hoping na ma patch up na yung mga nangyaring issues nung nakaraang araw and sa ngayon patuloy ang COP ng Tagum City sa pag perform ng kanyang function,” Gultiano said.

BARMM health officials launched Tuesday its regionwide campaign dubbed “Chikiting Ligtas: Measles-Rubella and Oral Polio Vaccine (MR-OPV SIA)” for the protection of children against the diseases.

The campaign, which is set to run until May 31, will involve vaccinating children aged 0–59 months against measles and giving them oral polio vaccines.

In a briefer, the Ministry of Health (MOH)-BARMM said measles and polio are contagious diseases that can cause severe complications, such as pneumonia, ear infections (otitis media), conjunctivitis, diarrhea, encephalitis, malnutrition, and death in children.

With this, MOH-BARMM Deputy Minister Zul Qarnayn Abas called on regional health stakeholders to advocate and encourage the parents and families to bring their children to nearby health centers.

“When parents, for one reason or another, could not bring their children to the health station, our frontliners are conducting house-to-house visits, and mobile clinics, so we can protect our children,” he said.

Dumama, former DOH-Soccsksargen regional director and Cotabato City health officer, has urged everyone to address the problem by protecting their loved ones, especially their children from highly communicable diseases.

“We need to find solutions to this polio and measles problem, let us not allow these viruses to hit our children,” he said in his speech here.

BARMM Health Minister Dr. Rizaldy Piang said they hope to immunize about 626,000 children in the region.

In Lanao del Sur, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) said it is targeting a maximum of 166,000 children as vaccine recipients.

“We don’t want to have outbreaks in our province, and it is important that we should aim to cover all qualified children to get the vaccines,” IPHO chief Dr. Alinader Minalang said in a statement.

Vice Governor Mohammad Khalid Raki-in Adiong said parents and caregivers are urged to protect children against measles, rubella and polio through the vaccination offered freely to the public. (PNA)