SENATOR Bam Aquino on Friday supported Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana’s appeal, urging the Philippine National Police to rethink its policy of deploying erring policemen to Mindanao, saying the move would further reduce public trust in the police.
“Filipinos deserve an upstanding police force. Delinquent cops should be fired, not just reassigned and sent to Mindanao,” said Aquino.
He said it was important the public trusted policemen especially in Mindanao, under martial law and terrorism threat.
“We should send our best and brightest, not those who abuse their power,” added Aquino.
But Senator Francis Escudero said he did not see anything wrong in assigning erring cops to difficult posts like sending them to Mindanao while awaiting their suspension or dismissal for as long as criminal and administrative cases were filed against them.
“I don’t think they will dare bring with them their bad habits and may even learn a lesson or two from their exposure in such difficult assignments.
Aquino made the statement after the PNP shipped to Marawi two Mandaluyong policemen who were caught in video hitting with a “yantok” nightstick two men they arrested for drinking on the sidewalk.
In the 17th Congress, Aquino filed a bill that aimed to strengthen the Internal Affairs Service of the PNP to instill better discipline and performance among policemen.
The PNP “must clamp down on crime and corruption while fully abiding by the law and respecting basic human rights,” said Aquino in Senate Bill 1285 or the PNP Internal Affairs Service Modernization Act.
The bill was endorsed by the IAS and was subsequently filed by Aquino to help the PNP’s efforts to get rid of bad eggs in the organization.
The measure seeks to strengthen the IAS with provisions for autonomy and independence in its administration and operations and empowering it to instill discipline and enhance the performance of personnel and units of the PNP at all levels of its command.
“The bill expands the motu-propio investigation powers of the IAS to cover all acts and omissions by PNP officers which might discredit them or hinder them from rendering their services effectively,” he said.
In addition, the measure mandates the prioritization of IAS functions, which promote character building, and carry out inspections, audits, intelligence operations and rehabilitation among officers.
By increasing the authority and mandate of the IAS within every branch of the PNP, Aquino hoped the police would better protect the public and honor their duties.