Quit call shows DILG chief sincere in cleansing police ranks: IAS

MANILA: The civilian head of the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) on Friday said he has also heeded the call of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. for ranking police officials to submit their courtesy resignations.

 

IAS director general Alfegar Triambulo told reporters that the DILG chief’s move shows determination to eliminate bad eggs among the police force and rebuild its reputation.

 

“First of all, this call by SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government) is a challenge to the integrity of the entire PNP organization, this is the role of the service of internal affairs — to champion police service integrity so I and the IAS people will take the lead to support this program of the Chief PNP because This is also the goal of the service of the Internal affairs),” Triambulo said.

 

The IAS chief also called on other officials of the service to do the same.

 

“The law says all those who are entering the IAS are undergoing tight screening to ensure that they are untainted. This is to ensure impartial justice. This is like a second layer of screening for us so I am willing to submit to that,” he said.

 

Brig. Gen. Sidney Hernia, chief of the Police Regional Office in Mimaropa (PRO-4B), also expressed support for Abalos’ move.

 

“I strongly believe that the pronouncement of Secretary Abalos calling for the courtesy resignation of all high-ranking officials is a concrete manifestation of his sincere intention to cleanse the PNP as the premier law enforcement agency of the country. It is very fitting that amidst this turmoil, a fair and independent investigation shall be launched to pinpoint and eliminate the few scalawags in our ranks. In this way, we will regain our credibility as a competent and reliable police force,” Hernia said in a separate statement on Friday.

 

Meanwhile, PNP chief, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., commended the IAS for successfully fulfilling its Zero Backlog Policy with 100 percent Administrative Case Resolution Efficiency (ACRE) for calendar year 2022.

 

Based on the report of PNP IAS, as of Dec. 29, 2022, it resolved speedily all 1,581 police administrative cases lodged in their office.

 

Azurin said the zero backlog policy was first implemented in 2016 under the initiative of Triambulo.

 

This policy serves to support the mandates of the IAS as the lead agency in the campaign against all forms of misconduct in the PNP.

 

For the last five years, the IAS recorded consistently high ACRE rates with 62 percent in 2016, 89 percent in 2017, 85 percent in 2018, 99.94 percent in 2019, 99.75 percent in 2020 and 99.65 percent in 2021.

 

“Through the years the PNP Internal Affairs Service as the integral disciplinary vanguard of the organization has immensely contributed to the internal growth and organizational reform that shields the PNP from erring cops and bust the culture of wrongdoings among policemen by effectively administering the investigation process of police misconduct and imposing appropriate disciplinary mechanisms,” Azurin said in a statement on Friday.

 

As an institution, Azurin said that IAS conducted independent and impartial investigations concerning the police force. It strives to remain true to its mandate of championing police service integrity.

 

Salute

 

Meanwhile, Abalos said he salutes all PNP colonels and generals who heeded his call to give way to the government’s internal cleansing efforts within the police organization.

 

“I acknowledge PNP Chief Azurin’s commitment to this cause by demonstrating leadership by example among his fellow officials and true honor and integrity in service. I hope his noble action paves the way and inspires other PNP officials to do the same. Salamat sa pangunguna sa ating laban kontra iligal na droga (Thank your for leading the fight against illegal drugs),” he added.

 

Abalos, a former chairperson of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), also thanked local chief executives who backed his appeal and expressed hope that other local chief executives across the country will follow suit.

 

On Thursday, the Metro Manila Council, the MMDA’s policy making body composed of the 17 mayors of the National Capital Region, issued a resolution expressing support for Abalos’ move.

 

Source: Philippines News Agency

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