DILG mulls return of police recruits’ training to PNP

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is studying the possibility of restoring control over the training of police recruits to the Philippine National Police.

DILG officer in charge Catalino Cuy said on Friday that an oversight committee of the agency was now reviewing a proposal to bring back the National Police Training Institute (NPTI) to the PNP.

Cuy said this was among the measures they were reviewing to address the surge in the number of incidents of abuse, including the killings of minors, involving policemen.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the 51st founding anniversary of the National Police Commission in Quezon City, Cuy said the measures were aimed at intensifying the internal cleansing in the PNP.

“We are discussing measures, including the proposal to give back control over training to the PNP,” he said, adding this would be “advantageous” to the police force.

The training of police recruits is handled by the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) through the NPTI.

The NPTI evolved from the merger of the defunct Philippine Constabulary and the Integrated National Police training commands. —JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE