No interference by LP in promotions within PNP, Drilon says

Senate President Franklin Drilon. Photo courtesy of Drilon’s official Facebook page.

MANILA, Philippines –Senate President Franklin Drilon said yesterday that the Liberal Party does not interfere with the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) internal system of promotion.

“The PNP has developed into a professional organization. They look at promotions based on merit,” Drilon said.

Drilon made the statement in reaction to allegations made by Reps. Lito Atienza (Buhay party-list) and Jonathan de la Cruz (Abakada party-list) that the LP has its fingers in the promotions of police officials.

“I do not know what this talk is all about – that we are interfering. Personally I can tell you that I have not talked to anyone for the promotion of anyone in the PNP. The ruling party keeps its hands off the promotion process in the PNP to insulate it from politics,” Drilon stressed.

The lawmakers made the accusation following reports of a revamp in the PNP starting next month until 2015.

For their part, Atienza and De la Cruz – who made the claims in light of the upcoming revamp within the PNP – said that their allegations were made out of concern that officials within the administration were meddling with the system of advancement with the police ranks.

The lawmakers said that this interference may result in the erosion of professionalism within the PNP, which would in turn cause loss of morale.

“I am sharing the apprehension that political interest can intervene in (PNP) assignments. This reshuffle and review is long overdue with the miserable performance of the present setup,” Atienza said.