By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
Almost 100 “erring” policemen were presented to President Rodrigo R. Duterte at the Malacanang Palace on Tuesday, Aug. 7.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Police Director Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar said their cases include kidnapping, rape, robbery, extortion, involvement in illegal drugs, AWOL (absent without leave), non-appearance in court duties, grave misconduct, and irregularities in the performance of duty.
For his part, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar D. Albayalde said there was “an order” from the Office of the President, which said that Mr. Duterte “wanted to talk to these cops.”
“Ito yung mga police na may cases ng illegal activities, at yung mga na-relieve kasi yung mga kasamahan nila ay na-involve sa illegal activities also,” he added.
(These are the policemen who were involved in illegal activities, and some of them were relieved because [their companions] were also involved in illegal activities.)
Asked why some of them have not been fired yet, he said there is a “due process” that should be followed before they can be dismissed from service.
Reprimanding the rogue cops, Mr. Duterte said: “Paano tayo mananalo sa NPA kung kayo mismo ginagawa ang ginagawa nila?”
(How will we be able to win our battle against the New People’s Army (NPA) if you yourselves are doing what they do?)
