Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9) — A high-ranking official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has played down the supposed drug ties of some policemen during an inquiry on alleged abuses of law enforcers at the House of Representatives.
PNP Directorial Staff chief Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria on Tuesday told the House Committee on Public Order and Safety that the police force has internal mechanisms to investigate police officers, and that complaints against cops are not ignored.
“The PNP is not sitting on our butts letting these things happen to the detriment of the reputation of the PNP organization,” he said during the hearing.
“We ourselves are trying to police our organization,” he also said. “The only thing is the organization is so big, it’s 228,000-strong.”
Dubria was responding to Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop’s remarks on the seeming prevalence of crimes involving policemen.
Acop, a former police officer, sought a congressional inquiry on the illegal drug busts conducted by policemen in Antipolo last year.
“How can we eliminate illegal drugs in this country when your people are the ones committing crimes?” Acop remarked. “Law enforcers become law breakers.”
But Dubria argued that only 1% of the police force can be considered “misfits.”
“For policemen involved in drug charges, there are about 179 personnel charged, which is, comparing it to 229,000 personnel of the PNP, it is less than 1% of the PNP who are misfits,” he pointed out.
Dubria added that erring policemen can be held to account through the National Police Commission.
Other government agencies such as the Office of the Ombudsman and Commission on Human Rights can also investigate allegations of wrongdoing against cops, he said.
