Cordillera group lobbies for separation of Internal Affairs Office from PNP

BAGUIO CITY –– The Regional Advisory Council of the Police Internal Affairs Services (IAS) of the Cordilleras on Wednesday endorsed a congressional measure that separates this body from the police system.

Only 30 percent of recommendations made by the IAS is addressed by the chief of the Philippine National Police, it argued.

“The IAS should be free from influence, pressure and intervention from the chief PNP and other high ranking PNP officials in adjudicating administrative cases,” states a resolution passed by the group.

The advisory group said they support House Bill No. 3056 sponsored by PBA partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles that would turn IAS into an independent agency that monitors police behavior and investigates and rules on administrative offenses of law enforcers.

It said other countries operate IAS as agencies run by civilian inspectorates which have proven to be more effective at stomping out erring policemen.

The resolution signed by advisory group chair Alan Maso and nine council members said Nograles pursued IAS’ independence because “of the current controversy in the PNP,” apparently referring to the revival of the 2013 “ninja cops” case in Pampanga.

Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde stepped down as PNP Director General ahead of his November retirement after a Senate inquiry into the anomalous release of criminals veered its attention to the Pampanga drug bust, where a substantial amount of shabu (crystal meth) disappeared.

Albayalde was Pampanga police director at the time when 13 policemen were investigated for the missing evidence.

On Oct. 16, the former PNP chief was included in a criminal complaint filed by the Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group against Albayalde’s former subordinates who allegedly profited from the drugs.

Albayalde and the policemen denied taking and “recycling” the narcotics seized at the drug bust in Mexico town./lzb