PNP chief Bato vows PNP won’t abuse subpoena powers

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Monday allayed fears surrounding the subpoena powers given to him and two other high-ranking officials, saying that any attempt to abuse or misuse it will be dealt with accordingly.

The country's top cop said that President Rodrigo Duterte's enactment into law of Republic Act 10973 which authorizes him, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director, and the CIDG deputy director to issue subpoenas on cases under investigation will "effectively add more teeth" to their mandate to "enforce the law and find solution to criminal cases."

"With all the safeguards and built-in measures to ensure transparency and accountability in all police operations, rest assured any attempt to abuse or misuse this power will be promptly checked and subsequently dealt with accordingly," Dela Rosa said.

He said that subpoena powers will also allow the PNP for speedy disposition of cases.

"'Yung cold cases for lack of cooperation from supposed to be witnesses, with this power mabubuhay itong mga kasong ito dahil pwede natin sila i-subpoena, hopefully," Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa assures the public that they will not abuse their subpoena power: I swear before God, people and media that I will never never abuse this power. pic.twitter.com/jpopjI58EM

— Marlly Bondoc (@marllybondoc) March 12, 2018

Extreme cases

Aside from this, Dela Rosa said that subpoena powers will only be used on "extreme cases" when both the CIDG director and deputy director for administration are unable to function.

"Bakit gagamitin ko pa ang power na 'yan kung functioning ang CIDG di ba? Just in case, wala 'yung CIDG director, wala 'yung deputy director, so sinong puwedeng mag-issue kundi ako? I don't need to use that power kung functioning 'yung CIDG," he said.

The PNP chief also allayed fears that subpoena powers will be used on the PNP's Oplan Tokhang but raised the possibility that it will be used for anti-illegal drug operations especially on building up cases against high-value targets.

"Ang Tokhang naman natin is lefthand effort, I don't think kailangan natin ng subpoena powers para sa Tokhang, knock and plead lang ito eh, hindi naman tayo nagiimbestiga, we are not investigating, we are appealing from them to stop their illegal drug activities," he added.

Lawmakers belonging to the Makabayan bloc had opposed the bill's passage, saying its enactment will only grant additional powers to the PNP-CIDG which may be abused in light of the supposed human rights situation in the country.

The militant lawmakers cited the government's campaign against illegal drugs, which is being linked to thousands of killings of suspected drug personalities since Duterte took power in June 2016. — RSJ, GMA News