BUHAY Rep. Joselito Atienza, a House senior deputy minority leader, backed on Friday President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to revive the two-layer police system—one local and one national.
“We welcome and support the President’s pronouncement to go back to the two-layer police system. This would ensure accountability and provide an effective check and balance within the police force. Giving back control over the police to our local government officials would not only make them directly accountable, but would also involve the community,” he said.
Atienza’s declared support came as Senator Panfilo Lacson defended PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa from criticisms regarding the “pushup” he ordered for seven Angeles City policemen in Pampanga tagged in the extortion of three Korean tourists.
“The message is good. Pushup is symbolic and the cussing and everything, but it should go beyond that,” said Lacson.
Lacson, who headed the PNP from 1999 to 2001, said the people were waiting for whatever positive action aside from meting out the appropriate or commensurate punishment.
He said the PNP chief was off to a good start in implementing a much-needed internal cleansing of the police force but would need to go beyond scolding cops linked to wrongdoing.
In the House, Atienza said under the present setup, many police officers from the provinces were being assigned to Metro Manila without even knowing the terrain of their new assignments and the local officials within the areas.
He cited the abduction and slay of Korean national Jee Ick Joo, the robbery-extortion of three South Korean tourists and the rape of a woman in Laguna involving policemen.
“This shows that there is an urgent need to reform our police and restore the integrity of the institution and the public’s trust,” he added.
“We congratulate the President on his move to clean-up our police force. We will do everything in and out of Congress to help him do this. If needed, we should amend the Constitution,” he said.
On Wednesday, an angry Dela Rosa lashed out at police personnel tagged in the robbery-extortion of Korean tourists during a visit to Angeles City.
Lacson said Dela Rosa had told him the setup for an internal cleansing mechanism in the PNP was complete, and would soon go full blast.
But Sen. Chiz Escudero said the push-up of policemen in front or the media was ordered by Dela Rosa only for camera and photos — for publicity.
