Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 25) — The new chief of the Philippine National Police urged other officials of the organization to discipline erring members but to also refrain from reprimanding them in public.
In his first press briefing a day after assuming the top PNP post, Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. called on police commanders to “treat each and every personnel as a family member.”
While the PNP should be strict when it comes to the misconduct of personnel, Acorda said it should not publicly air their dirty laundry.
“Kumbaga kung nanay or kung tatay, kung paluin mo, ‘wag naman ipahiya mo sa buong bayan na ‘yung anak mo ay nagkakalat. Pero kailangan paluin. Kung kailangan ipakulong, ipakulong natin,” he said.
[Translation: It’s like when you’re a parent, you can punish your children, but don’t embarrass them by telling the whole town about their misbehavior. But they need to be punished. If they have to be jailed, then let’s jail them.]
The former chief of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence also defended the integrity of the 228,000-strong police force, saying dignified officers far outnumber erring ones.
His statements come around two weeks after claims of a “cover-up” in a massive shabu haul surfaced, with Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos alleging the possible involvement of some high-ranking police officers.
