Cops drinking in public may face administrative raps, DILG warns
MANILA, Philippines — Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday said he has ordered the Philippine National Police leadership to issue an administrative circular prohibiting cops from drinking in public.
This, after President Rodrigo Duterte said that military and police officers should stay away from bars to keep security forces from getting into trouble when drunk.
“Kayong mga pulis, I’m warning you: do not drink in public. Sa Davao pinagbawalan ko ‘yan pati kayo na ngayon. All over the Philippines, you do not enter into drinking places,” the chief executive said Tuesday.
(You police officers, I'm warning you: do not drink in public. In Davao, I prohibited it and it now applies to all of you. All over the Philippines, you do not enter into drinking places.)
Año stressed that a police officer's job requires gaining and maintaining the respect and trust of the citizens.
He said cops drinking in public places may face administrative charges such as dereliction of duty, insubordination and gross neglect of duty.
“We cannot have armed policemen walking around in public reeking of alcohol and not in their best state of mind as it implies lack of discipline among our uniformed personnel. Respect your badge and uniform,” Año, a former military chief, said.
He added that police can opt to drink alcoholic beverages in the confines of their own homes instead.
Last December, Duterte ordered police to stay out of Okada Manila casino, which he described as a place for "the lowlife in society."
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