CHR backs PNP’s internal cleansing
Following incidents involving alleged police scalawags, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed support for efforts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to cleanse its ranks.
CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia yesterday said they are concerned with latest reports of criminal incidents, including a kidnapping case supposedly perpetrated by rogue policemen.
“While only committed by a few, it casts a negative impression on policemen, to the detriment of the entire police force and institution,” De Guia said.
“We support the PNP in its thrust for internal cleansing and urge that they further intensify their efforts in order that the public truly feels that policemen are protectors of rights and not otherwise,” she added.
De Guia issued the statement after the PNP bared details of a kidnapping syndicate run by rogue policemen.
In addition to the kidnapping group, some policemen have also been implicated in the killing of Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi vice mayor Alrasid Mohammad Lipae Ali and the slay try against Cebu City councilor Jessielou Cadungog.
The alleged police scalawags received a tongue lashing from President Duterte at a meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday.
A total of 102 police officers were presented before the President, with 87 from the National Capital Region, eight from Calabarzon (Cavite Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Central Luzon regions.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said he would no longer deploy the policemen to remote areas in Mindanao.
“We will no longer do that because they are facing criminal and administrative charges,” he said.
Albayalde said the PNP will immediately resolve their administrative cases and ensure that appropriate punishments are imposed, including dismissal from the service to those with grave offenses.
Last May, Albayalde reassigned 11 policemen to Sulu after they bashed him on social media.
The policemen criticized Albayalde over his habit of berating them on minor offenses like sleeping on the job. –