Zamboanga Sibugay Province News

Sibugay COP’s undergo disciplinary authority workshop

• Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=51223
• Saturday, August 27, 2011

by Paulnazer Lontua

ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Aug. 27 (PIA) –- Sixteen (16) Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief of Police (COP) and other Provincial Investigation and Detective Management and Administrative Officers of the province of Zamboanga Sibugay attended the Seminar-Workshop on COPs Disciplinary Authority conducted by the Internal Affairs Services from Region IX recently at the Sandigan Hall of the Provincial Police Headquarters here. PSupt. Geraldo Benjamin Avengoza, Assistant Provincial Director for Administration (APDA) of Zamboanga Sibugay Police Provincial Office, said the workshop aims to train these 16 municipal COPs to handle conflicts and problems with their men with disciplinary authority in their level. Avengoza added that it is the first time in PNP Sibugay to have a workshop of this kind. “The basic goal of this seminar is to simply give enough knowledge and skills to our COPs in Zamboanga Sibugay to handle situations which involved implementing disciplinary authority on their men. I believe that this is the first time here,” said Avengoza. It was learned that most of the problems within the PNP-COP level are brought to the Regional Internal Affairs Services (RIAS) office where cases pile up since more pressing matters are prioritized over it. The situation prompted the RIAS to conduct the workshop to capacitate municipal police stations to quickly resolve PNP conflicts within their level. “RIAS decided to train these COPs in handling disciplinary authority among their men so that cases would no longer reach higher offices because the latter have a lot of things to prioritize. Such that, municipal police station conflicts and problems should be settled by municipal COPs to lessen the burden of the RIAS”, added Avengoza. During the morning session of the workshop, PSupt Edwin B. Saagundo from RIAS discussed the issues on PNP Admin Disciplinary Authority, Admin Appellate bodies and Admin Offenses and Penalties. In the afternoon, RIAS Legal Officer, Atty. Russel Ebillo, did a detailed discussion on Admin Due Process. Disciplinary actions which could be sanctioned by COPs to erring PNPs are 15 days suspension, forfeiture of salary and restriction to specified limits depending on the weight of the violation committed by a police officer. Zamboanga Sibugay PNP Provincial Director, PSSupt. Ruben D. Cariaga, Sr., and RIAS Acting Regional Director, PSSupt. Sonny T. Cunanan, also graced the seminar-workshop.