IAS: 70% of police disciplinary recommendations ignored from 2015-2017

Authorities took no action on 70% of the recommendations for disciplinary measures pitched by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Internal Affairs Service (IAS) from 2015 to 2017.

Out of 567 recommendations for police dismissal, only 159 were implemented, according to an episode on GMA News TV' Bawal ang Pasaway.

This means that for every 10 police officer they recommended for sanction, not even three were dismissed, the report added.

"Yung amin, bilang recommendatory, ay sina-subject po nila ng ibang layer ng ating bureucracy, nung ating directory personnel and record management," PNP-IAS chief Inspector General Manager Alfegar Triambulo said.

"Meron silang division diyan na tinatawag na Discipline - DLOD - Law and Order. Nire-review po nila ang aming recommendation, and they're the one drafting the recommendation for the chief PNP," he added.

According to Triambulo, the IAS is not informed and has no access to records to find out if the recommendations are implemented.

"That's why medyo nadismaya kaming taga-IAS because we are risking our life in front to run after this, para matanggal itong mga iskawalag na ito, pero later on na-find out namin na hindi pala inaksyonan ang aming mga recommendation," Triambulo said.

"The NAPOLCOM should take action on our letter, because they are the administering and controlling body of the Philippine National Police," he added. 

Triambulo said that the recommendations were given to the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) last year. However, they are still waiting for the action of the commission.

Section 49 Disciplinary Recommendations of IAS of RA 8551 states that all recommendations given by IAS for disciplinary measures "cannot be revised, set-aside or unduly delayed by any disciplining authority without just cause."

NAPOLCOM vice chairman and executive officer Rogelio Casurao, however, defended the institution, saying IAS did not need to send their letters to NAPOLCOM as they are already exercising their disciplinary powers.

"Hindi na nila kailangan sumulat sa amin, actually. Kasi they have been exercising that. They have been filing cases against policemen. Nagtataka lang ako bakit kailangan pa sumulat para magkaroon sila power to discipline. Nasa batas 'yan," he said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News