PNP eyes outsourcing law firm to help cops facing charges

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil on Tuesday lamented the lack of legal assistance for cops facing charges, saying that the PNP might need to outsource services from law firms to help them.

In an ambush interview, Marbil stressed that what police officers, especially those in the lower ranks, need most right now are legal aid and health cards to be added to their benefits. 

“That’s the biggest problem ng mga bawat policeman, lowly policemen, at kami dito na nasa taas. Kapag nakakahuli kami ng mga malalaking tao, wala kaming legal assistance. Magaling ang legal service natin, but not that enough para matulungan ‘yung bawat pulis natin sa baba,” he said. 

(That's the biggest problem of every policeman, lowly policemen, and even us here at the ranks. When we apprehend big persons, we don't get legal assistance. Our legal service is good, but not that enough to help all of our policemen.) 

Marbil said that cops find it especially difficult whenever the person they apprehend files counter-charges against them. He said some policemen even have to shell out from their own pockets just to seek legal assistance for themselves. 

He said a financial institution initially committed to donate P300 million to the PNP to provide legal assistance worth P10,000 to every cop facing charges. 

“Sabi ko, parang mahihirapan ‘yan. Hindi siya sustainable. What we need right now is get a firm, ‘yung talagang firm that will defend. Para ‘yung mga pulis natin, they can easily go to that legal firm na tutulong sa mga pulis natin,” he said. 

(This seems difficult. It is not sustainable. What we need right now is to get a law firm that will defend our policemen. Our cops can easily go to that legal firm that will help them.) 

As to the health card, Marbil said that this will help cops deployed in areas far from Metro Manila get medical assistance for free. 

The PNP chief also said he believes that granting the police these additional benefits will encourage them to provide better services to the public. —VAL, GMA Integrated News