ILOILO City – As part of the internal cleansing of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), 14 police officers across Western Visayas were dismissed from the police service.
Between January and July this year, 60 police personnel were accused administratively for different violations.
This resulted to the dismissal of 14 police personnel who were found guilty of the various administrative complaints, 14 others were suspended, one was demoted, another policeman was slapped for forfeiture of salary and one case was dismissed for lack of evidence.
However, 22 cases have been exonerated; two were reprimanded and 16 cases were still under the summary hearing at the PRO-6’s Internal Affairs Service.
PRO-6 director, Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda said they will continue to sanction police officers violating the laws and special orders from the national office.
“The purpose of the internal cleansing is to regain the tarnished reputation of the police and to tell them that they have to value their job,” Miranda said. “The police now have a higher salary and many benefits, so walang rason na magloko sila, we are here to serve and protect the people not to abuse our rank.”
Miranda said if the police continue to defy his order not to be involved in illegal activities more police will be dismissed and punished.
“I give recognition to deserving and hardworking police personnel, but I’m quick to punish those who violated the law,” Miranda added.
When Philippine National Police chief, General Guillermo Eleazar assumed his post, he emphasized that one of his main thrusts was the internal cleansing policy, part of which was reforming initiatives that will “ensure quality among the ranks of police officers”.
To have quality of ranks, Eleazar said he will impose the use of quick response (QR) codes to those who wish to apply in order to avoid the “palakasan” or backer system.
With the use of QR codes, applicants will become anonymous and can’t use their backers to enter the PNP organization.
Aside from reforming the police ranks, the PNP chief also ordered internal cleansing in the community through intensified enforcement of peace and order focusing on street crimes, cybercrime and health protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic./PN
