Lacson: PNP internal cleansing ‘on the right track’

Sen. Panfilo Lacson INQUIRER file photo

Despite recent news on police scalawags, Senator Panfilo Lacson said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is on the right track in pushing for its internal cleansing program.

Lacson said the sanctioned police allegedly involved in illegal activities are just the results of the PNP’s effort in implementing the cleansing program among its ranks.

“‘Yung (On the) renewed internal cleansing, they’re on the right track,” he said when sought for comment on the leadership among the police during the Meet the Inquirer forum Thursday.

Lacson said the PNP only has a renewed drive on internal cleansing, that’s why more police scalawags are now apprehended #MeetInquirer @inquirerdotnet

— Cathrine Gonzales (@cgonzalesINQ) August 16, 2018

But even though he commended its program, Lacson advised the top leadership in the PNP to reangle the messaging on the apprehended police.

“Dapat ang messaging ninyo ang naha-hilight yung mga cops involved in kidnapping, kotong, illegal drugs, because may renewed drive kayo,” Lacson said, addressing the top-level leadership.

(You should highlight that the cops involved in kidnapping, extortion, and illegal drugs were sanctioned because you have a renewed drive.)

“Hindi [ito] dahil sa dumami ‘yung mga scalawags kundi meron kayong renewed efforts to expose them and arrest them,” he said.

(This is not because the number of scalawags increased but because you have renewed efforts to expose and arrest them.)

Lacson also said Director General Oscar Albayalde came to his office before he assumed office as police chief and advised him to push for internal cleansing among the PNP.

“I think based on that basic guidance that I gave them, they’re really implementing an honest to goodness internal cleansing within the PNP, and that’s good,” the senator said.

He also advised Albayalde to “sustain” the police’s internal cleansing program, or else it would go to waste as scalawags will again prevail. /je