THE Philippine National Police has thus far dismissed 5,151 policemen for various irregularities since the start of the Duterte administration to demonstrate that it is not tolerating abuses in its ranks but is sensitive to the demand of the public for a truly professional and responsive national police organization.
In a statement, Chief PNP Police General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar also assured that operational lapses committed by policemen in anti-criminality operations are not ignored or disregarded by the organization but are promptly addressed.
Eleazar gave the assurance following the death of 16-year-old Johndy Maglinte in Laguna last June 16, 2021.
Maglinte and drug suspect Antonio Dalit, who is the subject of an arrest warrant, were killed when they allegedly violently resisted arrest. The incident is under probe based on the claim of the teenager’s family that Maglinte and Dalit were executed by police operatives.
Following this, Eleazar has already ordered the relief of 10 members of the Biñan City Police Office and placed them under “restrictive custody” while a probe of the incident is being done by the Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS). Another “independent investigation” is being conducted by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Eleazar pointed out that whenever there are claims of irregularities in police operations, these are investigated so operational lapses could be corrected if proven to be true.
“Hindi po natin binabalewala ang mga alegasyon ng lapses sa operasyon ng ating mga pulis,” Eleazar stressed. “Kaya nga po natin ito iniimbestigahan ay para agad maitama, sakaling may lapses na makita, para hindi na maulit pa.”
“We constantly review our protocols to check if these still fit the kind of setting we have today or if there are adjustments or changes that need to be made,” he added.
The PNP Chief explained further, “Thus, in instances where there are allegations of irregularity in police operations, it is also important for us to get to the truth to enable us to improve and be better public servants. It also enables us to rid the PNP ranks of rogues who are unfit to wear the uniform.”
He said that it is both the PNP and the public that will suffer if operational lapses are just ignored and are not promptly addressed.
This is also the reason, according to him, why thousands of policemen were dismissed from the service and punished as part of the disciplinary measures on the part of those who committed grave abuses.
Based on the PNP data, a total of 18, 664 were penalized for various offenses since 2016. Of this number, a total of 5,151, were dismissed from the service.
“Kaya nga po makaaasa ang publiko na hindi kinukunsinti o kukunsintihin ng PNP ang mga pagkakamali dahil hindi dapat pinapandigan ang mali at sa halip ay kailangang itama upang hindi na pamarisan pa,” he said.
“This is actually embodied on the Intensified Cleanliness Policy (ICP) which I launched when I assumed the top PNP post (last May 7, 2021).
“Maliit pa lang ang problema ay agad na solusyunan na upang hindi na lumala pa,” the PNP Chief added.