PNP chief intensifies on internal reforms

MANILA: Aside from the intensiied war on drugs, the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said he was determined to pursue “internal reforms” aimed at ridding the 190,000-member agency of “scalawags” and “rogue elements” linked to high-proile crimes like kidnap-for-ransom and extortion.

In his irst press conference as the PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde pointed out that the war on drugs was a given by intensifying and strengthening the campaign in line with the order of President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte to prevent the country from turning into a “narco-state.”

But Albayalde also said that in pursuing the campaign, he would also institute reforms “to be more respon- sive,” apparently referring to criticisms over alleged rampant human rights violations especially in extra-judicial killings that resulted in the death of more than 4,000 drug suspects most of whom fought it out with them instead of surrendering, according to the police.

Reform was also high in the mind of Albayalde particularly in his aim to eliminate “scalawags” who have been giving a bad name to the PNP through their involvement in high proile crimes such as illegal drugs and kidnapping.

Speciically, Albayalde said he would continue his surprise inspections of police stations where he found lawmen drinking liquor or sleeping while on duty while he was the chief of the Metro Manila PNP regional command.

But this time, Albayalde he would conduct such inspections on a nation- wide bases by going to areas where he would receive complaints against policemen either lax or not performing their avowed duties.

On Thursday during the turnover ceremonies, Albayalde set the tone of his leadership at the PNP by vowing he would “impose discipline 24/7” and “undertake major reforms.”

“We will show respect both to ourselves and to the public. Because genuine public service, I believe, is anchored on respect,” he emphasized.

“We wear our uniforms properly and with pride,” Albayalde said, “we do not sleep while we are on duty and we do not betray our oath of ofice by engaging in illegal activities.”

But he also vowed to be fair to his men and led by example as he explained: “I will not demand from you what I cannot demand from myself.”