QCPD chief stresses need to review PNP recruitment process

The errant or criminal behavior of some low-ranking police officers may have something to do with their level of education, Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel Jr. said Sunday as he stressed the need to review the Philippine National Police's recruitment process.

"Nakikita naman ng liderato ng PNP 'yan at sinabi naman ni Director General Oscar Albayalde, nangyayari naman na PO1 'yung nahuhuli," Esquivel said at a media forum in Manila.

He pointed out that there have been incidents of police personnel holding a rank of PO1 committing serious offenses, and said that he has already relieved 19 officers in Quezon City for supposedly being involved in corruption activities.

Initial findings of the PNP, Esquivel said, show that corrupt and criminal behavior shown by some low-ranking cops may have something to do with their "level of education."

"Kaya pinatitignan 'yung recruitment ng PNP. Meron bang correlation yung ranggo nila doon sa pag-commit ng mga crimes? May correlation ba 'yung level of education?" he said.

"Minsan naman ay kahit anong moral recovery na ginagawa ng pulis, may nagco-commit pa rin. It has something to do with the primary institution. Ibig sabihin, 'yung values natin sa upbringing bago pa pumasok ang pulis," he added.

Esquivel also said that the PNP has not been remiss in its duty of punishing erring cops.

"Hindi naman natin itinatanggi na may mga pulis din na pasaway, mga nagco-commit ng grave offenses. Sila naman ay nakakasuhan at nadi-dismiss," he said.

The PNP also conducts internal cleansing, especially in the midst of the government's campaign against illegal drugs, said Esquivel.

"During the war on drugs, pina-igting din naman ang ating internal cleansing natin. Kaya makikita natin na pulis sa pulis, naghuhulihan," he said.

"All fronts naman 'yung ating kampanya sa liderato ng ating Chief PNP at ng ating regional director, na ina-address hindi lang 'yung regular problem, pati internal," he added.

Esquivel urged his fellow police to do their duties properly.

"Kaya nagde-demand kami sa ating kapulisan na do your job," he said. "Lahat naman 'yan ay tinitignan para magkaroon ng komprehensibo na pag-address dito." — BM, GMA News