Over 16,000 rogue cops penalized since 2016 -DILG

More than 16,000 rogue police officers have been penalized under the Philippine National Police's internal cleansing program, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Wednesday.

Data from the DILG indicated that 16,839 erring policemen have been punished since 2016.

Of that number, a total of 4,784 cops have been dismissed from service, 8,349 have been suspended, and 1,803 others have been reprimanded, the DILG said.

The agency said other punishments include demotion, forfeiture of salary, restriction, and withholding of privileges.

The DILG noted that 564 cops allegedly involved in illegal drugs have been removed from service.

This showed that the DILG and the PNP are not tolerating the wrongdoings of the men in uniform, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.

He has urged the public not to generalize policemen.

"Ang kasalanan ng ilang bulok na pulis ay hindi kasalanan ng buong 220,800-strong police organization,” Año said.

"Ang ating kapulisan ay buong tapang na nagsisilbi ng tapat sa publiko. Sana huwag natin iyang kalimutan," he added.—AOL, GMA News