Over 950 policemen dismissed from service from January to August - PNP

More than 950 police personnel were dismissed from the service from January to August this year after being found liable for various offenses, according to the Philippine National Police.

"From January hanggang August 30 ay mahigit 4,000 na po ang mga naresolba po nating kaso involving ang ating mga police personnel. Mga 950 plus po diyan na-dismiss na po natin sa serbisyo. Ito ay nagpapatunay na sineseryoso po natin ‘yung pagdidisiplina at paglilinis po ng ating hanay," said PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo in the latest "The Mangahas Interviews" episode.

She said the PNP does not tolerate abusive behavior of its members and that they have been transparent in cases involving police misconduct, such as the killing of Jemboy Baltazar and the Quezon City road rage incident involving dismissed police officer Wilfredo Gonzales.

"Kami sa Philippine National Police ang unang aamin po na may lapses at malaking pagkukulang po ‘yung mga pulis na na-involve dito sa kaso ni Jemboy Baltazar diyan po sa Navotas at doon po sa Rizal. ‘Yung road rage involving ang isang ex-police officer. Lahat po ito ay seryosong pinag-aaralan at seryosong ina-address ng PNP. ‘Yung mga pulis po diyan na na-involve ay nasampahan na ng kaso," Fajardo said.

"Ang gusto lang po naming sabihin ay seryoso po naming hinaharap at pinag-aaralan kung paano pa po natin mai-improve at maa-address itong mga insidente involving our police officers," she added.

"Mayroon po tayong nakukulong na mga pulis. At recently ‘yung mga previous cases ay nabalita naman po ‘yan na may mga pulis tayong na-convict at eventually nakulong.''

Last year, more than 2,600 errant cops received penalties including dismissal from the service.

Excess positions

Meanwhile, in response to reports that the PNP spends billions of pesos annually on thousands of excess positions, Fajardo cited the organization's "manning requirements.''

''Mayroon po tayong yearly recruitment quota. So tumataas po talaga ang strength natin. Ilan po ang population ng Pilipinas ngayon? Bumalik po tayo doon sa na-create ang PNP under Republic Act 6975. Ang police to population ratio natin during that time ay 1 is to 3,000 mahigit,'' she said.

''Habang tumataas po ‘yung population ng ating bansa ay kailangan rin po nating humabol ng recruitment. Tumaas din po 'yung manning requirements ng PNP,'' she added. 

Fajardo said the need for additional personnel underwent a thorough process.

''Itong mga vacancy na ito ay mafi-fill up once ma-comply na po natin ang manning requirements. We want to assure everyone po na lahat pong ito ay dokumentado at hindi lang po ito isang gabi na pinag-isipan ng PNP. Lahat po ng mga additional personnel, additional position, lahat po 'yan ay dumaan sa proseso, inaprubahan po 'yan ng NAPOLCOM (National Police Commission),'' she said.  —VBL, GMA Integrated News