Cops’ pending cases show severe problem in PNP

MANILA, Philippines - The 4,000 pending administrative cases filed against policemen before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) is an indication of the severity of the problem regarding erring police officers.

Napolcom vice chairman Rogelio Casurao said yesterday that the pending cases against policemen include domestic problems, robbery, extortion and kidnapping.

“It’s a compilation of old and newly filed cases,” Casurao told GMA News.

Casurao said the number does not include other cases filed in other disciplinary bodies such as the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) and the Office of the Ombudsman.

If all these cases are added, Casurao said it is possible the total would reach the percentage cited by President Duterte.

Duterte previously stated that about 40 percent of the 165,000 officers and personnel of the PNP are involved in illegal activities.

“Taken collectively, you can just imagine the magnitude of policemen involved in cases,” said Casurao.

On Tuesday, Duterte ordered over 200 erring policemen to prepare for their transfer to Basilan, a known hotbed of Islamic extremists and other lawless groups.

Casurao said he believes the statement of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde that all officers whom Duterte scolded at Malacañang on Tuesday are facing administrative and criminal cases.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said the 167 policemen with pending cases who failed to show up at Malacañang on Tuesday will face additional charges.

Dela Rosa said 387 policemen facing various criminal and administrative charges were ordered to go to the Palace for deployment to clean up the Pasig River.

The PNP chief summoned the 387 lawmen to the PNP national headquarters at Camp Crame for accounting before they report to Malacañang. However, only 264 showed up.

When another accounting was conducted at the Palace grounds, there were only 228 policemen.

“There will be another case against them for not showing up on Tuesday. We will send them notice to return and if after 30 days, they failed to show up, these policemen will be considered AWOL (absence without official leave),” said PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos during a briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Carlos also noted that some policemen who were ordered to report to Malacañang claimed to have been either cleared or mistakenly accused of wrongdoing. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Marvin Sy, Ed Amoroso, Gilbert Bayoran