IAS a neglected office in PNP, says inspector general

The watchdog of the members of the Philipine National Police (PNP) has been neglected since its creation, PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) chief Inspector General Manager Alfegar Triambulo has said.

According to a report by Mav Gonzales on "Bawal ang Pasaway", 10 members of the IAS are occupying a 100 square meter office while its logistics unit is placed in the emergency exit due to the lack of room.

"Wala po silang opisina. Kasi ang trabaho ng AIS watchdog ng police. Dapat may prestige po yung office tapos nung nag go-around ako ng country. They are occupying yung old and dilapidated rooms ng ating mga headquarters," Triambulo told Winnie Monsod.

The former IAS office has become a grocery store and a bowling alley before it was demolished to be turned into a four-story office.

While the Department of Public Works and Highways has set aside P120 million for the building, Triambulo said it would take at least a year before the IAS could move in.

Lack of civilian personnel

The lack of space is not the only problem the IAS is facing, according to Triambulo. He said no civilian had been appointed to the service since the retirement of the first inspector general.

"From the retirement of the first inspector general civilian, wala na po civilian in-appoint ang presidente," Triambulo said.

"The Inspector general which was supposed to appoint all the employees of the internal affairs service ay wala po power na mamili ng empleyado niya," he added.

According to Section 41. Appointments of RA 8511 of 1998, the inspector general shall make the "appointments of personnel who shall occupy various positions."

However, Triambulo said that out of 800 IAS employees, almost 700 are uniformed personnel. He added that the PNP personnel handed to the IAS also did not go through screening process required.

Although the job requires technical knowledge on law and government, the hired personnel has no background on this, the general said.

IAS moved to NAPOLCOM

According to the report, the office of IAS is at the bottom of the PNP's priorities.

Due to this, the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) wants IAS to be moved to its jurisdiction.

"Kung papasok ang IAS as part and parcel of the National Police Commission, mapapalakas niya ang law enforcement powers ng NAPOLCOM. Remember NAPOLCOM is the supervisor of the PNP," NAPOLCOM Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Rogelio Casurao said.

"Without much thinking, aangat ang kanyang estado as an independent body now dahil sa IAS is already with the National Police Commission," he added.

According to Casurao, IAS will not have any problem with its funds as it would be included in NAPOLCOM. It will also be granted adjudicatory power or the power to discipline police officers.

"And then we'll ask Congress to put IAS as part and parcel of the National Police Commission," Casurao said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News