Colonel Bernard Banac, Philippine National Police spokesperson. INQUIRER.net file photo / Cathrine Gonzales
MANILA, Philippines — Over 400 police officers were dismissed from service for involvement in illegal drugs since January 2016 until February 2019, the Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed on Thursday.
According to the data released by the PNP, 322 officers have been tested positive for drug use, while 199 are involved in other cases related to illegal drugs, including extortion activities against arrested suspects, cuddling drug lords, and possession and sale of illegal drugs.
PNP spokesperson Colonel Bernard Banac said that the dismissal of those proven to be involved in drugs show that erring officers have no place in the police force.
“Pinahayag ni [PNP chief] General [Oscar] Albayalde na talagang walang puwang sa hanay ng PNP ang tiwaling mga pulis na gumagawa ng mga illegal at lumalabag sa batas, maging sa mga alituntunin na pinapatupad ng PNP,” Banac told reporters.
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(PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde said that the PNP has no place for rogue police officers who commit illegal activities and violate the law, even the rules being implemented by the PNP.)
Aside from the dismissed police officers, over 8,000 lawmen were also demoted, suspended, or reprimanded due to other cases of misconducts.
“Dumaan sila sa proseso ng pagbibigay ng kanilang statement, ng kanilang pahayag maging yung revalidation ng drug test, inulit muli pero positibo pa rin,” Banac said.
(They went through the process of giving their statements, even through revalidation of drug test, but they again tested positive for drug use.)
“Tayong nagpapatupad ng batas laban sa illegal na droga tapos tayo mismo ay user. Hindi pwede. Nakakahiya ‘yun,” he said.
(We implement the law against illegal drugs and yet we ourselves use drugs. That should not be. That’s shameful.) /jpv
READ: Almost 700 PNP personnel linked to drugs as of Oct. 2018