MANILA, Philippines — A total of 15,768 police officers have been penalized for criminal and administrative offenses since 2016, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.
PNP chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan said among the offenses committed by the police personnel were involvement in the illegal drug trade, neglect of duty, graft and corruption.
Of the figure, Cascolan said 4,591 police officers were dismissed from the service while 7,899 were suspended. Some 846 policemen were demoted.
Of the number of dismissed PNP personnel, Cascolan said 410 were sacked for using drugs and 139 for involvement in the illegal drug trade.
The PNP also stripped 608 personnel of their salaries and withheld the privileges of 205 lawmen. Another 119 personnel were restricted to quarters.
“Our internal cleansing program doesn’t stop there, rather it will continue to be implemented with greater commitment in the best interest of transparency and accountability in public service,” Cascolan said at a press briefing.
The PNP chief said he would not tolerate police officers involved in illegal activities.
Cascolan made the remark after PNP Custodial Service Unit chief Lt. Col Jigger Noceda was accused of sexually harassing former Ozamiz City vice mayor Nova Princess Parojinog while in detention.
Noceda has been placed under restrictive custody at the PNP headquarters.
The Internal Affairs Service, which is conducting its own probe on the incident, said Parojinog wants to file an administrative case against Noceda before the Office of the Ombudsman.