‘PSYCHO IN UNIFORM’: Regular neuro test for cops mulled

USANA
USANA

ILOILO City – The Philippine National Police (PNP) will study the possibility of subjecting police officers to neuropsychiatric tests on a regular basis.

“We have to look at the entire behavioral pattern of our police officers (some of whom may be) inclined to commit certain violations,” said Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana, PNP spokesperson, in an exclusive interview with Panay News.

He floated the idea that neuropsychiatric exams may be rolled out annually or every six months, following the murders committed by a policeman in Tarlac, Jonel Nuezca.

According to Usana, it might be time to “regularize” such health service for policemen, which he said is only being conducted during processes of recruitment, schooling, and promotion.

He disclosed that PNP chief General Debold Sinas already talked to some health officers regarding the matter.

Lawmakers earlier urged reforms in and a thorough evaluation of the police force amid the public outrage sparked by the killing of a 52-year-old woman and her 25-year-old son in Paniqui, Tarlac province by off-duty Nuezca on Dec. 20.

SENSITIVITY TRAINING

Parañaque City’s Rep. Joy Tambunting said the PNP and other law enforcement agencies should introduce “more extensive sensitivity training in dealing with volatile situations” for their personnel.

“The loss of an innocent life in the hands of those who swore to protect (the people) is one life too many,” Tambunting said.

She also said law enforcement authorities should ensure government-issued firearms were not used for crimes.

For his part, Davao del Norte’s Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez reiterated his call for Sinas to resign if he could not reform the force. Failure of leadership is not acceptable, Alvarez said.

“Reorganize is not the right term. We need to overhaul and fix the ranks of our police force,” Alvarez said.

Marikina City’s Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo agreed, stressing the “horrible incident points to a systemic problem in how we prepare and evaluate those who police our citizens.”

Quimbo also filed a resolution urging the House of Representatives to investigate the Paniqui killings and to look into “the implementation of current policies, protocols, and rules of the PNP in ensuring that all its personnel possess the necessary technical knowledge and psychological fitness and preparedness in the performance of their duties, including policies on circumstances which warrant the use of firearms.”
Muntinlupa’s Rep. Ruffy Biazon said the dismissal of two cases for misconduct against Nuezca in 2019 for lack of evidence and witnesses showed the need for reform in the PNP’s operational procedures on evidence gathering and preservation.

In a statement, Biazon said the House may conduct an inquiry to evaluate and identify reforms or specific solutions to flaws in police procedures that may require legislation.

On Monday, the Makabayan bloc in the House filed a resolution condemning the Tarlac killings and seeking an inquiry into the “continuing police brutality in the country.”

Usana said the police would “welcome any suggestion” but insisted that Nuezca was not representative of the whole police force.

What happened in Tarlac, according to Usana, was a lesson to all policemen – maximum tolerance must be exercised in all sorts of situation. 

“Perhaps, we have to look into improving our anger management intervention and use of force continuum principles,” he added./PN

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