The Philippine National Police has dismissed 2,181 policemen involved in the illegal drug trade and serious law violations since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in July 2016, Malacañang said Monday.
In other developments:
The PNP hierarchy has ordered the relief of 13 police chiefs in Ilocos because of their poor performance during their tour of duty.
PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde ordered Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula, the regional director in Ilocos Norte, to remove the 13 from their posts.
• Three more victims on Monday surfaced and filed a complaint against six Taguig City police officers involved in kidnap-for-ransom and extortion activities.
The three narrated to Southern Police District Chief Tomas Apolinario Jr. and Metro Manila Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar their sad experiences with the six policemen that happened on various occasions last month.
• The Philippine National Police on Monday announced the recent successful operations against kidnap-for-ransom and gun-for-hire groups by its Anti-Kidnapping Group and the Police Regional Office 4-A or Calabarzon.
“PNP Calabarzon has responded positively to my instructions to hit hard these crime groups that provide support systems to drug trade activities,” Albayalde told reporters.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said 1,828 police personnel were fired because of serious infractions and 353 police personnel were dismissed for failing to pass the drug test or for having been involved in the illegal drug trade.
“This is part of the 6,401 police officers whose administrative cases have already been resolved for various offenses including involvement in criminal activities, grave misconduct, serious neglect of duty, serious irregularity, malversation, dishonesty and graft and corruption,” Roque told reporters in Malita, Davao Occidental.
Meanwhile, PNP spokesman Benigno Durana said the remaining 3,589 police officials were suspended, 362 police were demoted, 403 police were reprimanded, 147 were penalized with salary forfeiture, 43 were withheld of privileges, and 29 were restricted to quarters.
“Our salary is enough to sustain only one kitchen. If you have two to three wives or girlfriends, you will be in debt,” Durana said.
He said it was imperative for the PNP to instill financial literacy to police officers to educate them on how to spend their salaries wisely. With Francisco Tuyay, Joel E. Zurbano and PNA
