Marcos eyes creation of internal PNP legal office

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Wednesday that he has already directed a study for the possible creation of a legal department within the Philippine National Police (PNP) that will serve as the ''defense council'' of any police officer.

Marcos said this is part of the administration's efforts to protect the welfare of cops against harassment and "flimsy accusations."

“We’ll create an office, the legal office within the PNP who will be the defense council of any policeman who is charged with whatever complaint, crime. Mayroon at mayroon silang tatakbuhan kaagad na abogado (They could immediately run to a lawyer) just to give them advice and it will be internal,” Marcos said during during the PNP's second command conference in Camp Crame. 

Marcos said cops would not be asked to pay for the services of this legal office.   

“Pag-aralan natin nang mabuti because ginagawang weapon, wine-weaponize ‘yung kaso. So, kapag nahuli ‘yung kriminal, huling-huli na, pero magaling abogado tapos walang kalaban-laban naman ‘yung ating pulis,” he added.  

(Let us study this because some cases are being weaponized. If the criminal was arrested then his/her lawyer is good, our cops do not stand a chance.)

Marcos also said that the creation of a legal department would protect the PNP from influential groups harassing the police force.

“They can afford a lawyer so for one week tapos, tapos na. So we have to provide that kind of protection para naman ‘yung mga pulis natin, malakas ang loob na gawin ‘yung trabaho nila. Kahit tama ‘yung ginagawa nila, hinaharass sila,” Marcos said. 

(They can afford a lawyer for one week, then it's over. So, we have to provide that kind of protection for our policemen, so they will be able to do their jobs properly and they will not be harassed.)

“Kakasuhan sila ng kung ano-ano, some of them are powerful figures. So, siyempre, marami silang capability, maraming resources, maraming pera. Marami silang access sa mga sikat na abogado, kailangan mayroon din tayong pang depensa. Yes, we have to protect our people,” he added.

(They will be charged with something, sometimes by powerful figures who have a lot of resources. They can afford good lawyers. Our policemen should be able to defend themselves. We have to protect our people.)  —VAL, GMA Integrated News