Bicol PNP to rid camps with informal settlers

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 11 (PNA) – Hundreds of families residing inside Philippine National Police (PNP) camps across Bicol region are set to be ejected next month for reasons of threats to security and maximization of the area for police-related projects and activities. The deadline agreed upon between the PNP and informal settlers concerned in the previous string of dialogues was December last year, however, most residents declined to voluntarily relocate. Informant settlers were retired police officials, soldiers, non-uniformed office employees, who were previously allowed in relation to their connection to camp operations. However, there are also civilians that have gained entrance to the camp premises when allowed to put up small stores and eateries but have later established permanent residences. The camps being located in urban areas and nearby university belts, some informal settlers have been maintaining boarding houses. In Camp Gen. Simeon Ola, the regional police headquarters, in this city alone there are over 60 families who remained defiant to the ejection order. Members of the Philippine Army residing in Camp Ola have all relocated themselves voluntarily prior to the December 2012 deadline, said Senior Supt. Renato Bataller, Bicol PNP spokesperson. There are over 50 illegal settlers in Camp Escudero, the Sorsogon provincial police office (PPO) headquarters based in Sorsogon City while Camp Camacho, the Catanduanes PPO headquarters in the capital town of Virac has remained densely populated by informal settlers, Bataller said. It was learned that the back part of the police headquarters in Camp Camacho and a big portion of the firing range have been encroached by illegal residents. The police camp in Cataingan, Masbate has also remained teeming with illegal occupants that is denser compared to the situation in Masbate PPO headquarters. It was learned that the present regional police leadership is also aiming at preventing illegal settlers from acquiring titles over the lot they are occupying and take possession of government owned structures just how a retired police official did in Camp Ola. Bataller, also the chief of the regional human affairs office, revealed that a former police official from Batangas who brought in his family when he was assigned as chief of police in this city, first occupied the bungalow structure with wide garage behind the Albay PPO as temporary quarters. The structure is owned by Albay PPO and previously used as base of its provincial police mobile group prior to the official’s assignment. The official later was able to acquire title over the lot and has since then took possession of the area and the government structure. When ordered to vacate the area, the official and his family presented the land title and declined the order. “That building was constructed out of the funds of Albay PNP, and the lot is within the camp reserve area. The regional command is set to file charges to recover ownership and find out how he was able to acquire title over it”, Bataller said.(PNA)