Toropo defends PNGDF
DEFENCE Force Commander Major-General Gilbert Toropo has distanced the military from the “actions of a few drunk” soldiers, saying the force remained “professional and disciplined”.
At least three soldiers have been arrested over the death of the late police officer, Snr Insp Andrew Tovere, last Saturday in Port Moresby.
He died in hospital after he was assaulted at the ATS Settlement.
The three soldiers are expected to be handed over to the police this week to be formally charged.
Maj-Gen Toropo said: “I am immensely proud of our reputation with the people of PNG as a professional and disciplined force.
“This type of behaviour is not who we are, or what we are about.
“This is a direct challenge to our ethos and values.
“It is a direct challenge to the civil and military laws under which we live and serve.
“It is a direct challenge to the uniform that we proudly wear.
“It is a uniform that we represent 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 52 weeks a year.
“We do not stop being a service person when we take off our uniforms at night or during the weekend.
“We are representatives of our nation and the Defence Force 24/7.”
Maj-Gen Toropo said he had spoken to his commanders about his expectations of members of the defence force.
“This is not an option, this is a requirement, the expectation of you, of wearing the uniform and flag of our country,” he said.
“And if you do not feel you can meet this expectation, then I recommend you look at other employment options – and quickly.
“The high level of trust, confidence and respect that we hold, in the eyes of the people of Papua New Guinea, must be, and is, hard earned.
“However, it only takes one foolish, irresponsible action to destroy this and I as your commander will not let that happen.”
18 comments
Enough now of those boast and surrender the three cultprits to police today and send them to prison as soon as possible today so others can see and will learn from there not to repeat this same mistake again.
Lets blame the devil for these actions, if every one turns to God & abide in his presence, we would not be facing the problems we are facing today, why are we denying the Lord who is our protector, if we continue live in our own strength & ways , the devil is here to kill & to destroy us. Our answer is not the LAW but HIS GRACE, our salvation
is the marimari bilong God…….Lets turn to the Lord.
I think our PNGDF Maj-Gen Toropo, is on the dot: few “out off line” defense personnel are not proud to wear the esteemed uniform… they are not tolerated in the force. Its regrettable the actions of those few who have “no care attitude” and tarnishing the good name of an icon institution (PNGDF) which all PNG are proud off.
PNGDF,its a bad practice, not to killing your country men but kill those illegal immigrants
You are the country reps
No one should be killing anybody. The police should be enforcing the law be it immigration or traffic offences and punishment is determined by the courts not PNGDF personnel. The country reps are the parliamentarians and GG not employees of the defence force.
When only one or two member’s of your society,organization or groups are misbehave/not cope with the rest is giving bad images to entire members of that particular groups as a whole,come on Mr.Toropo stop boast and depend your soldiers seems like you are not working and strict on the rules and regulation of PNGDF,if you think that you are incapable of holding this higher position please simply step aside and let the very right person to occupy,your department is our watchdog and taking care of our security and safety.
commander is loosing control of his men, This is undisciplined and unprofessional of your men…, you are bullshit, your men are criminals in disguises of Army uniform, this is typically mental ill army officers, they have no regard for the uniform they wear they should all be arrested and taken to Laloki Mental Institution … .. bloody bullshit.. sick in the brains…. primitive …Commander Get he officer entitlements and send them to the victims family….dont boast about your men, frankly they bunch of low life tugs .. ol lain lo bomana wass lo ol long ap…
I won’t be surprise if those 3 culprits are from the southern highlands province. See the mentality is when someone of your province is in power, the soldiers who work under his leadership turn to think that they own that particular organization or company, that is what happened.
So sad we lost one of our country man.
Our PNGDF is engulfed with officers who grossly lacks discipline. When they’re in uniform they act like ‘Iron Man’, they simply don’t want anyone to tell them what to do, that’s where the problem is..
Get real and humble yourself!
Such boasting won’t help the PNGDF. We know the police and military have had issues with discipline in the past. This is not the first time that some have fallen out of line. Sadly enough the life of a good police man was taken. You are the head of the military so you have to respond in such a way that you set a precedent and send a warning to other rough soldiers. If one misbehaves, shows no discipline etc, he should be dismissed from the force without any benefits. Police and Military have been the worst enemies of the citizens in many ways. This is unacceptable. One day people might retaliate and then we will see how big your balls are.
If you have rough guys without discipline in your force enlist them and send them to Afghanistan of Iraq or Syria so that they can experience true war. They want to be Rambo’s, then send them our to be Rambo. Enough is enough.
It all starts with discipline at the top from the commander down to divisional or unit commanders. If there is no discipline, checks and balances daily there will always be some crooks, some uneducated and unprofessional men in uniform who entered the force by forgery or nepotism. People and business are suffering on the hands the peace keepers of the country. We can not trust some members of our disciplined forces anymore, they act like hooligans, killing and destroying properties worth millions of kina. The government is liable to meet the cost of damages. Remember that and start disciplining your men
Commander, you are put on the spot to start taking action on those rogue officers who took away the life of a senior police officer. Look at the worried faces of his family members in the media. sad, sad and sad.
Yet to see you guys committed to the 24/7. I lived in the Military Barracks for 6 years and all I see is undisciplined, incompetent, out of shape or overweight soldiers and yes of-course favoritism.
This is a direct result of bypassing recruitment procedures and processes or just a lack of mental rehabilitating courses in the Defence force development programs. Therefore, proper screening must be conducted to identify qualified personnels to serve the country and protect the integrity of PNGDF.
Moreover, recruit those who are passonate to become soldiers not those who sees the DF as an employment opportunity.
This incident happened out of pride more than any other reasons like using alcohol is just an excuse.. For a so called disciplined commissioned officer doing such reckless act is unacceptable.
Mr Toropo should stop his boasting and reactive responses and be more proactive in implementing real discipline in his men and not giaman tasol bunch of cowboy undisciplined soldiers.
Condolences and Bikpela sori stret to the deceased Cop’s families especially his wife and children. Lastly like to comment on A/Asst Comm Jnr Wagambie and your men for a job well done in controlling the temper of the whole situation which is a character of a true disciplined police officers.
Hope this is a learning lesson for future United disciplined force in enforcing law and order for the betterment of our beloved country PNG.
Some criminals have been recruited into PNGDF over the years without proper screening because of BRIBERY. Recruitment in Police also same. Police and Army are same, they have problem in ethical thinking. People who climb up the ranks in police force and defence force are the ones who uphold ethics and are honest in their duties.
PNGDF should be guarding our border provinces patrolling then enjoying their lives searching for beer in the cities. Your job is to protect the country and not to kill your country man as you did last week. Very shameful! We have many humble and good soldiers in the country but only few among many are rotten apples which need thorough screening and terminate their contract with PNGDF. Already tired of this undisciplined behavior.
All our disciplinary forces are all the same they think they are the judge and jury but to me they are just fools and cowards who when the going gets tough they get to sell their women folks. SHAME ON YOU LOT!!!
It is a great effort by both organisatìon to swiftly attend to this issue before it going out of hand. I support all as this is not the time to boast but criticise your rank and file coz with criticism you improve.
You should instead show remorse to the life lost and pay respect to his family.
On another note! If the constabulary can move swiftly on the police officer being killed, why couldn’t they move or investigate quickly on the killing of innocents in hanuabada and other reported cases around the country by the constabulary.?
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