PNP launches cleansing program

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police plans to infuse the cadet culture’s squad concept in boosting the reform aspect of its internal cleansing program.

“The squad concept is from the PMA (Philippine Military Academy). You have the squad leader who guides and makes sure that he supervises the squad members,” PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said at a press briefing following Tuesday’s launch of the rejuvenated PNP internal cleansing program

The PNP chief said the relaunch of the internal cleansing program was intended to emphasize the restorative approach through the squad concept, which he described as “more personal, more intimate.”

Albayalde said that PNP units would be divided into squads composed of six to eight police personnel.

Pilot area is NCR

The pilot area for the squad concept, he said, will be the National Capital Region (NCR), which has the most number of erring policemen.

“This is one way of changing the [police] attitude … This includes [building] the spiritual and familial values,” he said.

To be included in the squads are those who have been sanctioned with reprimand, suspension, demotion, or forfeiture of salaries and benefits.

“These [personnel] can still be restored and reintegrated in the PNP,” Albayalde said.

“We want to create God-fearing personnel, a family-based and service-oriented organization,” he added.

For his part, PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said the squad concept was also intended to better supervise the increasing number of policemen.

“By the end of the year, we will be 200,000,” he said.