To cleanse the city police of “bad eggs,” Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Friday urged Manileños to report abusive members of the Manila Police District to the city’s People’s Law Enforcement Board.
Estrada said the City of Manila has an efficient and well-functioning PLEB under the able leadership of anti-crime advocate Teresita Ang See, who serves as the board’s executive chairwoman.
“We are fortunate to have Madam Teresita in our PLEB. With her, we are assured of fair and speedy resolution of all complaints filed against erring law enforcers,” Estrada said.
“The people can complain to PLEB. Next time you encountered an abusive cop, file a complaint before the board. You will be heard and adequately protected,” Estrada said.
Manila, he said, has a PLEB in each of the city’s six districts, with the main office located at the 5th floor of the City Hall.
Section 43 of Republic Act 6975 provides for the creation of PLEBs in every city and municipality to hear and adjudicate citizens’ complaints against uniformed members of the Philippine National Police.
Under the law, the establishment of PLEBs is mandated to the local government units that have the primary responsibility of making sure the Boards are functioning in their areas of jurisdictions.
PLEBs are authorized to impose corresponding penalties that ranges from the withholding of the privileges, restriction to specified limits, suspension or forfeiture of salary or fine, demotion in rank of not more than one rank or dismissal from the service of the erring police personnel.
See said her office welcomes any complaint and grievance against MPD lawmen and with sufficient basis they will initiate a series of hearings in soonest possible time.
“Unlike the Internal Affairs Service of the PNP, which is also composed of policemen, members of PLEB are all civilians, so rest assured all the cases lodged before us will be resolved with dispatch and with impartiality. Our processes are not slow,” she pointed out.
“We do not delay all the hearings. We want to resolve each complaint as soon as possible because it is unfair to both the complainant and the accused policeman,” See said.
From a backlog of 10,000 cases in previous administrations, PLEB-Manila has been receiving fewer complaints from the public since Estrada assumed office in 2013, See said.
This is an indication of either a more disciplined city police force or the people simply do not know where to go to report unscrupulous policemen, she pointed out.
Estrada has been strict in disciplining MPD policemen but never meddles with how the PLEB carries out its functions.
“He’s been supportive of PLEB and sees to it that we have everything we need,” she said.
For any complaint or inquiry, See said the public may call the PLEB Central Office at 302-67-50.