Quezon city: The National Police Commission (Napolcom) is targeting to eliminate its case backlog by the end of the year by resolving approximately 1,200 pending cases involving police officers.
According to Philippines News Agency, Napolcom Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan expressed confidence during a press briefing at their head office in Quezon City that they will achieve their zero case backlog target by December. This goal is being pursued with the assistance of their commissioners and lawyers, who have begun working on weekends since October.
Calinisan stated, "We won't allow cases to remain pending by the end of December 2025. In fact, Napolcom personnel report for work on Saturdays to tackle cases that have been inherited from 25 years ago." On a single day, Napolcom addressed 115 cases and successfully resolved 70 of them before the press conference commenced.
The Vice Chairperson assured the public that all new cases will be resolved within 60 days. This effort is intended to ensure that innocent police officers can be cleared without enduring harassment, while those engaged in misconduct will face consequences.
Calinisan also mentioned that police officials who are retired and eventually convicted will see their pensions cease. He emphasized the importance of timely justice, stating, "How can people believe in the institution if the institution is slow at first? How can people believe if the case they filed 25 years ago is not moving forward?"
Additionally, Calinisan announced that Napolcom's Inspection, Monitoring, and Investigation Service plans to file three batches of cases against multiple police officers with the Commission's Legal Services. The cases involve serious allegations against several officers, including:
1) Eleven officers from the National Capital Region Police Office Drug Enforcement Unit (NCRPO DEU) for allegedly abducting two supposed drug suspects, Dane Mark Carlos and Charles Dean Sotto, on February 17, 2021, and March 24, 2021, respectively.
2) Police Col. Roland Vilela, over concerns regarding the transfer of large sums of money through diplomatic channels while serving as a police attach© in the U.S.
3) Twelve officers from the Manila Police District concerning the abductions of delivery riders Chester Dumaran and Nicole Owen Solleza in Rizal province last September 9.
