Purisima inaugurates P20-M PNP hostel NE

CABANATUAN CITY – The first known hostel of the Philippine National Police in the country was finally inaugurated here yesterday with the most unlikely person as  guest : suspended PNP Chief Alan Purisima.   

The elegant three-story, P20-million police hostel cum multi-purpose building was unveiled by Purisima and Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali inside the provincial public safety company compound fronting the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office here, intended to serve as home to police officers in the province.

          Umali said the facility, which will serve as the police officers’ “home away from home,” was funded by the provincial government out of his realigned intelligence funds.

          Umali and Purisima led the ground-breaking rites for the building along in March 2014 although construction was delayed by five months from the original targeted completion date of only six months.

          The facility houses a conference hall in the ground floor, 10 mini-suites in the second floor and four suites in the third floor. The provincial police can hold their command conference as well as small gatherings and functions in the area which will be a wi-fi zone.

          Umali added that this is the first known provincial camp in the country where the local PNP will have lodging houses.

          Purisima said such facility will be a big help, particularly to transient officers and men and also to their families who come for a visit.

          In his brief speech, he said he would see to it that the tour of duty of police officers, including provincial directors will be lengthened from the routine two years.

Senior Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves, provincial police director, said that the facility is something the local police can be proud of. He said that such facility gives the local police a more dignified look and commands respect from the public.

          He said that the Umali administration has been very supportive of the PNP, citing the turn-over in recent months by the provincial government to the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office (NEPPO) of patrol vehicles and the construction of other amenities such as the PPSC headquarters and gymnasium plus training on the upgrading of police capabilities.  

          Umali, who is chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council, said that his administration has been extending full support to the local PNP because it was instrumental in changing the image of the province from a political war zone into a zone of peace, referring to the spate of politically motivated killings .

          “Before, Nueva Ecija’s history was written in violence. I have to rewrite it and I can only do that if I have the support of the police,” he said, adding his administration has been extending assistance to the local PNP as a show of respect to the law enforcers, something which, he said, should be followed by other local government units in the province.

          “If you can give your life in the service, then the LGUs should pay respect to you by providing you with a decent and dignified place to live in,” he said.

          

          Umali said that year in and year out, the various police offices have been undergoing repair yet support is wanting. “It’s about time that if we really respect the PNP, let’s help them and not just talk,” he said, referring to the LGUs.

            He said he is taking his hats off the PNP not only for transforming the image of the province but also for but also for its crime-busting efforts which resulted in reduced criminality. “You should wear your uniforms proudly,” he added.