No need to detach Internal Affairs Service from PNP, says DILG exec

For the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the proposal to separate the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) from the Philippine National Police (PNP) is unnecessary.

In an ambush interview in Makati City, Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the agency supports the measures which will strengthen the office, however, detaching it from the PNP have repercussions as it is an important unit of the police in eradicating rogue cops.

"It may not be necessary to remove IAS completely from PNP but make them report directly to the chief PNP and the SILG... once a decision has been made it is immediately executory," Malaya said.

Malaya said the proposal needs to be studied, adding that "modifications" could be made instead of separating the unit from PNP.

"We need to study the matter carefully. It would be possible that we just make modification and the command and reporting line to the chief PNP and SILG," Malaya said.

It was PBA party-list Representative Jericho Nograles who had filed House Bill 3065 which suggests that the IAS would be separated from the PNP so that it could not be influenced by high-ranking officials in the police force.

The lawmaker claimed that the brotherhood among policemen had undermined the integrity of the present IAS due to accusations that top police officials covered-up their subordinates' mistakes.

In his proposal, Nograles said the IAS would be placed under the direct supervision of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.

The leadership of IAS backed the proposal of Nograles. —LDF, GMA News