PNP chief on relieving errant cops: ‘There is no sacred cow dito’

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said on Thursday that errant cops and their supervisors will face immediate administrative relief and an investigation upon committal of a wrongful act.

"This is one strike policy. There will be no second chance dito kasi ginawa na natin lahat dito. We gave directives, memoranda napakarami na, reminders na paulit ulit," Albayalde said.

"With the creation of our oversight committee that meets regularly and evaluates the different performances of the different commanders on the ground, kahit hindi ka maka-strike 3, depende sa gravity ng offense, depende kung ano nangyari," he added.

Albayalde explained that police officers who are given administrative relief will temporarily be put under the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (PHAU).

If after the investigation the supervising officer is found to have knowledge of the wrongful act of his subordinate yet did not take appropriate action, he could be charged for command responsibility and be suspended.

"There is no sacred cow dito," Albayalde said.

His remarks came on the heels of an incident where a policewoman was allegedly raped by her police officer instructor in a training center in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The suspect, Police Officer 3 Jernie Languian Ramirez, has already been arrested.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) earlier said that the incident puts a question mark on the credibility and ability of PNP to protect women.

"This not only violates the code of conduct of government workers but also greatly impacts the credibility and ability of the police to protect women if such violation happens from within the PNP hierarchy," CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said.

Recently, a 15-year-old girl was also allegedly raped by a police officer in Quezon City in exchange for the release of her jailed parents.

"'Yung mga nangyaring ganyan are really isolated... kahit na iisang incident yan hindi natin pwedeng palampasin 'yan and it will never be a culture in the PNP," Albayalde said.

The PNP chief said the institution is geared towards improving the background investigation and training of its recruits. — RSJ, GMA News