MANILA, Philippines — Over 2,500 police officers have been dismissed for various offenses since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in July 2016 until February this year, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde said on Thursday.
Albayalde said 2,528 police officers have been dismissed while 4,511 others were suspended by the PNP during the said period.
Albayalde bared the data after recent arrests of police officers involved in robbery-extortion and kidnap-for ransom cases.
He lamented that despite efforts to cleanse their ranks, and the increased salary for police officers, some of his subordinates still get involved in lawless activities out of greed.
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“Kahit na siguro gaano kalaki ‘yung sweldo na ibigay sa atin kung talagang meron talagang mga ganitong klaseng tao, ito ang sinasabi natin siguro na bulag sa pera, ‘yung greed ay sobra at hindi nila maiwasan yung pagka-inggit nila sa ibang tao sa mga materyal na bagay [magkakaroon ng mga ganitong kaso]”, he said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
(No matter how much salary is given to us, if there are really people who we say are blinded by money, is too greedy and are envious of the material wealth of others, [these cases will happen].)
Albayalde also assured that the PNP is implementing “check and balance” measures to make sure that police officers do not abuse their authority amid the government’s relentless war on drugs.
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“Baka kasi maraming umabuso dahil sinasabi ng ating President that he will back us up pero walang sinabi ‘yung Presidente natin na back-up niya kami even if we abuse [our authority],” he said.
(Some police officers may become abusive because the President said he will back us up, but he did not say he will back us up if we abuse our authority.) / gsg