DILG: Detaching unit probing rogue cops from PNP may be unnecessary

MANILA, Philippines — Separating the police unit in charge of probing police officers allegedly engaged in illegal activities from the Philippine National Police (PNP) may not be necessary, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Thursday.

Jonathan Malaya, DILG spokesperson and Undersecretary for Plans, Public Relations, and Communications, said some adjustments can be implemented instead of separating the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) from the PNP.

“It would be possible na (that) we just make modifications on the command and reporting line to the Chief PNP and SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government). And according to Secretary (Eduardo) Año, its decisions will be executory even under appeal,” he said in an interview at the sidelines of the Millenial Youth for Constitutional Reform (CORE) event of the DILG in Makati City.

“So what I think Secretary Ano is saying here is it may not be necessary to remove IAS completely from PNP but make them report directly to the chief PNP and SILG. And once a decision has been made, it is immediately executory,” he added.

On Tuesday,  Atty. Alfegar Triambulo director of IAS said he wants IAS to be independent from the PNP, as in the case of its foreign counterparts which are feared by rogue cops since it is disassociated with the police organization.

Malaya said that “in principle,” the DILG supports measures that will strengthen the IAS, but added that separating it from the PNP, an attached agency of the DILG, has a lot of repercussions.

“First, the IAS is an important tool of the Chief PNP to eradicate scalawags and rotten eggs if it’s supported and supervised properly. So the other implication of this is that this will also affect the Napolcom,” he said.

Malaya said the IAS wants the Napolcom to be hands-off in deciding on administrative cases against erring police officers and just be involved in policy formation and its other functions.

“So since there are a lot of possible repercussions, we need to study the matter carefully,” he said.

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