Go to Basilan or resign, Rody tells erring cops

MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte yesterday berated more than 200 erring members of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and ordered them deployed to Mindanao, where he said more men are needed to fight terrorists and criminals.

Duterte gave the lawmen 15 days to prepare for their transfer to conflict-stricken areas in Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and other areas in Mindanao.

He said he needs to augment the police and military forces in the fight down south against terror groups Abu Sayyaf and the Maute.

“Kayo lahat ngayon nandito, kasali kayo sa Task Force South. Padala ko kayo sa Basilan. Tumira kayo doon ng mga dalawang taon,” he told the officers who were brought to Malacañang, emphasizing they should try it there for a couple of years.

Some of the policemen questioned their inclusion in the list of officers who committed minor offenses such as tardiness, moonlighting and extortion.

One officer said his superior told him that his inclusion on the list was due to his tardiness.

He said he shouldn’t be charged with tardiness since he was performing the night shift duty.

Two others, one each from the northern and southern police districts, said they had no idea why they were ordered to report to the camp and that they have no pending cases.

Officials said others who did not show up have either gone AWOL (absence without leave), transferred to other units or intentionally snubbed the order for them to report to Camp Crame.

Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa said additional administrative cases await officers who skipped yesterday’s meeting.

Duterte said the officers would be lucky if they survive after two years. But if they die while in service, he said he would order that their remains be buried in Mindanao without proper honors given to heroic policemen.

He said retraining in their case was useless.

The President said he earlier considered having the errant policemen clean up the Pasig River.  

But he took it back, apparently wary of the negative reaction from the public should the policemen be made to swim in the murky waters of the river.

He instead raised the idea of sending them to Mindanao.

Duterte warned the erring policemen to stop their illegal activities, as he would create a battalion of uniformed personnel who will monitor their movements.

“At kayong mga pulis na dati mga sindikato, huwag na huwag kayong pumasok (Those of you who were in syndicates, don’t even come in) because I will create a battalion just to keep track of your movements because it has been the sad experience of this country that the most vicious criminals, karamihan (mostly) ex-police or sometimes ex-military men,” he said, apparently referring to the Kuratong Baleleng Gang composed of former military men engaged in robbery.

Duterte’s shame campaign that first targeted suspected drug personalities has extended to policemen involved in ‘huli-dap’ or robbery-extortion.

The shame campaign against hoodlums in uniform is different from that of narco-politicians, which includes mayors, police officers, barangay chairmen and judges.

Bad eggs

Facing criticism from Amnesty International due to his anti-drug war, Duterte blamed the bad eggs in the police force for the setback to his anti-drug campaign.

The President complained why the police did not catch any “big fish” despite the over P100 million in intelligence funds allotted to them.

Duterte challenged the officers to a gun duel, but only when he finishes his term in 2022.

Dela Rosa also lashed out at the erring officers for giving the PNP a bad name. While their cases were considered minor offenses, Dela Rosa said a majority were filed as early as 2014 and 2015. 

“You are not aware you have pending cases? You are not aware you have done something wrong?” Dela Rosa asked the officers when he met them at around 1 p.m.

He showed journalists a document listing the officers’ offenses.

“You can see the type of people they are. They have cases. We based some on counterintelligence reports showing they are involved in illegal activities,” he said.

San Juan River

Instead of the Pasig River, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority officer-in-charge Tim Orbos want erring policemen to clean up the San Juan River.

Orbos said the San Juan River is “very dirty” compared to the Pasig River because of the garbage coming from Del Monte, Balintawak and Fairview, all in Quezon City.

He said the river is a catch basin and major tributary of the Pasig River.

The MMDA official said fumes and odor from garbage stuck in the area could make one cry and cringe.

Orbos also welcomed President Duterte’s plan to have the erring lawmen clear the Pasig River of water lilies, which inconvenience commuters of the Pasig River ferry system.

The operation of the Pasig River ferry system is sometimes suspended due to water lilies that block the vessel’s route, especially during rainy season.

He said he would abide by whatever decision the President would have on the matter. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Robertzon Ramirez