Monday, June 23, 2025

Police OIC: No golf, no ‘take’ from illegal activities

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NO more golf on weekdays for the entire police organization.

The declaration was made yesterday by Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, PNP officer-in-charge, who also said there will be “no take on anything illegal — be it illegal drugs, illegal gambling or any kind of bribery.”

The golf ban is actually a reiteration of directives of former PNP chiefs.

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Gamboa said he got a written authority from Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and the National Police Commission Tuesday night, which defined his functions as OIC, and issuing such orders is one of them.

“This will be a template for the entire PNP while I sit down as OIC. There will be no take on anything illegal — be it illegal drugs, illegal gambling or any kind of bribery. Sorry, but we will refuse it. If you insist, then we will put you to jail,” Gamboa said in a chance interview in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan in Taguig City, where he led the change of command ceremony of the National Capital Region Police Office from Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar to Brig. Gen Debold Sinas.

Eleazar is now the chief of the Directorial Staff, the fourth highest position in the PNP.

Gamboa said, “I am now declaring that there will be no more golf during weekdays, nobody is exempted, starting from the OIC down to the lowest mammal in the PNP and if you see them play golf, tell me and I will deal with them directly.’

The “no take and no golf during weekdays” policy has been implemented by a number of PNP chiefs to prevent policemen from being influenced by the givers, thus they can concentrate on their work without fear or favor.

Gamboa said that when he chaired the PNP Bids and Awards Committee, it disbursed some P26 billion from the General Appropriations Act and the President’s Funds to procure equipment, and not a whiff of irregularity was heard of.

“Of the 134 items we procured not a single protest was received,” he added.

On playing golf, Gamboa said he would allow policemen to play during weekends and holidays. He said playing any sports for that matter is also not allowed during weekdays.

He said punishments can be immediately be imposed on policemen with ranks of patrolman to lieutenant colonels (first and second level officers), while those with ranks of colonels to lieutenant generals (third level officers) will have to be sanctioned with the President’s consent since they are presidential appointees.

He said he can penalize a third level officer caught playing golf on weekdays by relieving him or her of current post.

Gamboa said he is not a golfer but he plays badminton after office hours.

Sinas said playing golf takes too much time, at least four hours, and is very expensive.

In his speech, Sinas said the President’s directives are clear and uncompromising, which includes “no take” from illegal drugs, illegal gambling, or any other criminal activity. — With Rod Lagusad

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