'Not singling out anyone,' Napolcom says on discharged cops in Pulong's viral video

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Saturday maintained that the Philippine National Police (PNP) remains apolitical after it discharged 2 cops seen in a viral video with Davao Representative Pulong Duterte.

“We’re not singling out anyone. Bilin nga natin sa lahat ng tao, PNP [at] National Police Commission should remain apolitical. Hindi tayo dapat lumalaro sa politika dahil di naman kami politiko. Police should stay [in] law enforcement, and Napolcom will stay in law enforcement and supervise the PNP,” said Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Atty. Rafael Vicente Calinisan said.

(We’re not singling out anyone. As we reminded our personnel, PNP [and] the National Police Commission should remain apolitical. We should not play with politics because we are not politicians. Police should stay in law enforcement, and Napolcom will stay in law enforcement and supervise the PNP.)

Calinisan made the statement days after the PNP said that it will be discharging the 2 cops ‘moonlighting’ as security guards for Duterte.

PNP Police General Rommel Marbil previously said that they will file a dishonesty case against the two cops that can lead to perpetual disqualification from any government posts.

Calinisan, meanwhile, added that Napolcom "trusts the system" amid the PNP's decision to discharge the 2 cops.

“Hindi naman lahat ng insidente ng police abuse ay kailangan panghimasukan ng National Police Commission… Tiwala ako sa ating mga sistema. Kung nagsalita na ang isang disciplinary authority, nagsabi siya na aaksyon siya, hindi na para panghimasukan ng Napolcom yan," said Calinisan.

(Napolcom will not interfere with all police abuse cases… I trust our system. If a disciplinary authority says that they will act, then Napolcom will not interfere.)

“Sana lang bilisan ng PNP, at inaabangan namin ang kanilang decision sa National Police Commission,” he added.

(I hope that the PNP will hurry, and we are now waiting for their decision at Napolcom.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News