Gamboa orders cops not to play golf on weekdays

October 16, 2019

“No more golf on weekdays”.

This is one of the marching orders of the Philippine National Police (PNP)  officer-in-charge, Police Lieutenant Colonel Archie Francisco Gamboa.

In an interview with reporters, Gamboa said he got the authority last Tuesday that playing golf on weekdays, especially during working hours, is prohibited.

“I just got my authority last night signed by the commissioners and no less than the SILG (Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano). I am now declaring that there will be no more golf during weekdays,” he said.

“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,” he added.

Gamboa jokingly said he will also schedule command conference on Saturday to prevent them from playing even on weekends.

“I’m open to sports but not on weekdays. Holidays, Saturdays and Sundays (is) fine with me but I’ll do conference on Saturday so that they cannot play golf (but) no let's not deprive them of that,” he said.

One of the reason he cite why there is a ban  on playing golf is because it’s time consuming.

“What time are you supposed to be in the office? 8 a.m. How much do you spend when you play golf for 18 holes? Four hours so you will not be able to finish (the game),” said Gamboa.

Gamboa said he is not a golfer but plays badminton.

Now that he has the power to appoint and relieve people from positions, he said this could be the possible punishment if  his orders are not followed.

On  the part of the new officer-in-charge of the National Capital Region Police Office, playing golf is not only time consuming but expensive.  

“Your payment for fairway, other expenses, the equipment plus time consuming so I don't want the police officers to focus on that,” Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas said.

During his time as the Central Visayas police regional director, Sinas said some officers caught playing golf during weekdays faced sanctions.

“It is very effective for us that all officers will be at their office on time. We lead (by) example to our people plus there is also another effect...  our people will not be used as escorts of any businessman who plays golf,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS