THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to include additional measures in the implementation of its internal cleansing program amid allegations of erring cops involved in the recycling of illegal drugs.
In his visit to the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Cordillera at Camp Bado Dangwa, Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo of the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) explained the importance of intervention as a tool to discourage police personnel to be involved in illegal activities.
"We will be launching a research, which will assist in the reassessment of the behavior and attitudes of our police personnel for us to know what the usual complaints of the public are. Our focus now is on intervention because despite us giving punishments to erring police personnel, it seems that there is no deterrence which is why what we want is to have a stronger intervention process," Triambulo said.
The IAS, although a part of the PNP, is an independent and autonomous unit that empowers it to act on matters within its jurisdiction without having to wait for instructions from the chief police.
"Before any offense by a police personnel maybe done, we will have the opportunity to cure it. The presence of the so-called ninja cops have become a culture which is why this is what we want to change under the transformation program in the PNP, and the Internal Affairs Service of the PNP now does not only focus on discipline but having a secure and safe community, which is why we will be assisting them in their performance through the conduct of inspection to assist in the effectiveness and efficiency in their performance aside from the threat on terrorism and disasters wherein they are capable and ready," Triambulo added.
Pursuant to Section 39, Republic Act 8551, IAS has been providing the power to pro-actively conduct inspection and audit of PNP personnel and units, investigate complaints and gather evidence in support of an open investigation, conduct summary hearings on PNP members facing administrative charges, and submit a periodic report on the assessment, analysis and evaluation of the character and behavior of personnel and units to the Chief PNP and the Commission.
Triambulo also lauded the personnel of PRO-Cordillera for not being involved in the recycling, using or illegal transactions involving drugs despite the multitude of marijuana confiscation and eradication operations in the region.
"It is worthy to note that being the most disciplined regional command in the country and despite the possible temptation for police personnel to involve themselves in the illegal drug trade due to the vast volume of marijuana being confiscated and burned, no policeman have ever been involved in the sale and distribution of marijuana which is a good example and model for our Police organization," Triambulo added.
Police Brigadier General Israel Ephraim Dickson, PRO-Cordillera director, recently reported that the overall campaign against illegal drugs has led to the arrest of 281 persons and the confiscation of various illegal drugs worth P340 million.