New police chief wants SAF to train recruits

IN

A bid to continue internal cleansing, incoming Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde said he would push for the elite Special Action Force (SAF) to take over training of new recruits.

"Kung pwedeng i-handle ito ng SAF mas maganda, but then we need a bigger facility and better facility," Albayalde said.

"Kung pwede nga we would like to create one big school para ma-standardize 'yung aming training, dahil ako nanggaling ako sa Special Action Force.

I stayed there for five years sa SAF so nakita ko na iba naman talaga 'yung pag-uugali, 'yung training, 'yung skills, 'yung discipline ng ating mga pulis na naka-assign sa SAF even before during our PC (Philippine Constabulary) days," he added.

The PNP has been in hot water in the past months due of the involvement of several police officers, majority with the rank of Police Officer 1, in illegal activities.

At present, the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) which is under the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) handles the new police recruits which mean that the PNP has nothing to do with the training of the officers.

Earlier, PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa said the PNP’s inability to train their men continue to be a challenge to them.

He said the PNP is the only police agency in the world which does not train its own officers.

Former PNP chief Senator Panfilo Lacson also said there must be something wrong in the police recruitment process as well as in their training that may have led to rookie policemen getting involved in illegal activities.

Senator

Antonio Trillanes IV, for his part, said he has filed a bill seeking the transfer of administrative and operational control over the PNPA to the PNP.

Albayalde said he has already discussed the matter with Interior and Local Government officer-incharge (OIC) Eduardo Ano who expressed support for his advocacy.

He said the internal cleansing, aside from the campaign against illegal drugs, will remain the top priorities during his leadership.

“Iniutos ng ating pangulo na paigtingin pa ang internal cleansing at internal discipline within the organization although sabi nga natin mangilanngilan nalang ang scallawags pero kailangan pa din natin i-weed out pa itong mga ito para totally malinis na ang ating hanay, at magbago na ang PNP,” said Albayalde.

Albayalde, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte, is set to take his oath as the new PNP chief on April 19.

He will be replacing PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa who will take the leadership at the Bureau of Corrections. Major revamp Meanwhile, Albayalde said he cannot immediately impose a total revamp in the PNP.

“Hindi pa natin masabi yan. I could not decide on my own kailangan din natin ‘yung ating ginawa sa NCR probably we will be activating the oversight committee kung talagang merong kinakailangan na palitan o hindi,” he said.

“Masama naman ‘yung pagdating mo jan basta-basta ka nagpapalit porke bagong head ka. I think its not proper na porke bago ka jan lahat papalitan mo na, there should be a deliberation and evaluation dito,” he added.