PNP starts purging of scalawag cops

This was evident with the presentation made by PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte the almost 300 erring policemen in Malacanang grounds on Tuesday. (Photo: Philippine National Police/ Facebook)

MANILA –The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started the purging of scalawags from their ranks.

This was evident with the presentation made by PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte the almost 300 erring policemen in Malacanang grounds on Tuesday.

Dela Rosa said some of the police scalawags have hard feelings as they claimed they had no case and if ever there was, it happened several years ago and they had been punished for it.

”Yung iba masama yung loob nila. Wala naman daw silang kaso. Kung meron man, several years ago (na ‘yun at) napagbayaran na nila,” he said.

Dela Rosa added some of the scalawag cops were asking why those with heavier offense were not with them.

”Bakit daw hindi naisama sa kanila yung mas matitindi (ang kaso),” he said.

The PNP chief stressed that those with big cases were beyond repair and they should be dismissed from the service.

”Kaya nga hindi kasama yung (may) mabibigat na kaso kasi beyond repair na yung mga tao na yun. Kailangan na talaga tanggalin sa serbisyo,” he said.

Dela Rosa said he would not mind whether the faces of the police scalawags are presented to the public.

He said the scalawag cops should not be bothered by “shame” because in the first place, they were not ashamed when they committed an offense or violated the law.

Presented in Malacanang were 84 members of the Manila Police District (MPD), 31 from the Eastern Police District (EPD), and 43 from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

Southern Police District (SPD) Director Chief Supt. Tomas Apolinario said 183 of his men were included on the list but only 64 were present as others were AWOL (absent without official leave).

Northern Police District (NPD) Director Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo said 42 of the 80 personnel in the list are included.

NCRPO chief Director Oscar Albayalde said some of the erring policemen have court duties but were involved in extortion, “laglag-kaso” wherein they released the person they arrested in exchange of money, “15-30”, tardiness “moonlighting”, “orbit” or they serve as security escorts to other personalities and “Kotong” cops.

Albayalde noted that the highest rank among the erring policemen is Chief Inspector, an NUP (non-uniformed personnel) turned positive in drug test, and 13 from NCRPO turned positive of drugs.

”It doesn’t mean na napagbayaran mo na noon ay you will not be committing the same offense,” he said.

Albayalde said this is part of the long-term cleansing program of PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

”Once na in-activate niya (PNP chief) yung Counter Intelligence Task Force (CITF), this is part of it,” he said.

He added that some of them will be given a chance to explain.

”Ang gusto natin ay total cleansing, ipakita natin na we are serious in this and the chief PNP is serious in this,” Albayalde said.