Recto backs PNP chief Dela Rosa’s initiative to observe zero-tolerance for rogue cops

Recto backs PNP chief Dela Rosa’s initiative to observe zero-tolerance for rogue cops (Photo: Sen. Ralph Recto/Facebook)

MANILA—Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto on Tuesday backed the initiative of Philippine National Police (PNP) to observe zero-tolerance for policemen who exploit the campaign against illegal drugs for extortion.

Recto made this remark after PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa vowed to actively go after scalawag cops.

He said that aside from the all-out-war against illegal drugs, “cleansing” the police ranks should also be made a priority.

“We cannot have two standards of justice: Soft gloves for policemen who use tokhang to rob, kill or extort while mailed fist against suspected drug users,” Recto said.

He said the PNP should allow its internal mechanism to check abuses, and see to it that these are penalized.

The senator also stressed that there should be a “public display of discipline” on those caught committing crimes “in the name of tokhang”.

This way, he said, it can serve as a deterrent against similar abuses, and to assure the public that the PNP leadership “is not a coddler of crooks.”

He further said that a “few dirty cops” should not sully the name of the PNP.

“Whatever gains it has achieved in the fight against crime can be cancelled by the mischief of a few bad eggs. So it is in the PNP’s interest that it goes hard after misfits within its ranks who give the whole organization a bad name,” Recto said.