Duterte wants PNP to regain mandate to train policemen

President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he wants the Philippine National Police (PNP) to regain its mandate to train policemen as he lamented that the current system produce “lousy men.”

“I think that I might return the training itself and the militaristic activity training of the police back to the PNP itself,” Duterte said in his speech during the 120th anniversary of the Philippine Navy in Pasay City.

Duterte cited the lack of effective background checks on applicants, noting that those who are into drugs and have criminal tendencies still managed to be admitted in police service.

At present, the training program for all incoming cops is handled by the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC),  which includes the PNP Academy.

“It has not done good since we transfer it to [PPSC]. It ain’t working. And we’re producing, to my mind, some lousy men getting into the service under questionable circumstance,” he said.

For Duterte’s plan to become a reality, Congress has to pass a law repealing a provision of Republic Act 6975, which created the PNP, that mandates the PPSC to train policemen and other public safety officers.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is the author of Senate Bill 574 which seeks to place the PNPA, Police National Training Institute, and National Police College under the PNP.

Similar measures have also been filed in the House of Representatives by Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano and Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil.

The bills have the support of the past and present leadership of the PNP. — BAP, GMA News