Acorda: Trust in PNP’s discipline of bad cops

PHILIPPINE National Police Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. has urged the public to trust the PNP’s built-in mechanisms in disciplining its erring personnel.

Acorda made the appeal following the recent involvement of certain police officers in criminal activities that have put the institution’s integrity in a bad light.

“The PNP, as an organization founded on professionalism, is more than equipped to undertake administrative investigation and if the circumstances warrant, render punitive actions against its personnel involved in criminal activities,” Acorda said.

These mechanisms are designed to ferret out the truth first and foremost, and according to Acorda, the same process would also give the opportunity for PNP officers under probe a venue to defend themselves against charges.

Meanwhile, the PNP challenged barangay officials to undergo drug testing as the national police reinforced its intelligence monitoring against village officials linked to illegal drugs.

PNP public information office chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said the beefing up of police monitoring efforts is part of the national police’s preparations to secure a safe and peaceful Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on October 30.

“Included in our monitoring are a number of barangay officials that are involved in illegal drugs,” Maranan said.

“Once we have strong evidence, we will conduct joint police operations or what we call intelligence-driven operations to arrest those involved in illegal drugs,” he added.

Acorda assured the public that in all its internal investigations involving its personnel, the PNP will be transparent and impartial.

Jun David and Charles Dantes