Sotto wants PNP law amended to review ‘downgraded’ cases of rogue cops

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) law should be amended to allow the review of “downgraded” administrative cases filed against rogue policemen, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said on Friday.

Sotto made the pronouncement as he questioned how 13 policemen tagged in a controversial November 2013 drug bust in Pampanga were only demoted when they should have been dismissed from the PNP for grave misconduct.

“‘Yung nag-downgrade ng kaso yun at bakit yun lang fi-nile at di-nowngrade e dismissal na nga yung original? Bakit demotion lang?” Sotto told Balitanghali in a phone interview.

[Why was their case downgraded? Why was it filed like that? It was downgraded? They were originally ordered dismissed but why were they only demoted?]

Asked what kind of legislative remedy will Senate propose to avoid the downgrading of administrative cases at the PNP, Sotto said he wants Senate to amend the PNP law.

“Kailangan amiyendahan na yung PNP law. Nandun na sa PNP law yung ibang administrative na kaso nila bukod dun sa Republic Act 9165 kung droga pinag-uusapan pero yung…. pagpapalakad at katulad nung iba-ibang kaso na nangyayaring ganyan dapat yung PNP law natin dapat ayusin,” Sotto said.

[We need to amend the PNP Law. The PNP law tackles administrative cases filed against rogue policemen aside from the Republic Act 9165 regarding drug-related cases. But if we are talking about different administrative cases, the PNP law should be fixed.]

Sotto said this is a wake-up call for the National Police Commission, which is mandated to reverse or modify PNP personnel disciplinary actions involving demotion or dismissal from service imposed by the PNP or the PNP chief.

In a Senate probe on Tuesday, The Department of Justice vowed to come up with a resolution on the 2014 grave misconduct case of 13 Pampanga law enforcers for failing to account seized evidence during an anti-drug bust operation in Mexico, Pampanga.  /muf

READ: DOJ to come up with resolution on case vs 13 Pampanga cops in a month