Sinas says ‘high time’ to review dismissal proceedings for erring cops

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas said Thursday it is “high time” to review the policy of the PNP on dismissal proceedings against erring personnel, following widespread outrage over the twin shooting incident committed by a policeman in Tarlac province.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel, Sinas said he supports the suggestion of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa for the PNP chief to have the power to immediately dismiss scalawags in the police force, including those involved in the drug trade.

“I informed him (Dela Rosa) that we will support him, at tsaka high time na po na bigyan ng review ‘yung policy namin dahil we always observe ‘yung due process na ganito,” Sinas said.

(I informed him that we will support him, and besides it is high time to review our policy because we always observe due process on this matter.)

“Kung pwede, iklian [‘yung process] o bigyan ng mas magandang pag-aaral ‘yung authority ng Chief PNP to immediately dismiss ‘yung mga pulis na gumagawa ng kalokohan kagaya ng nangyari kay Staff Sergeant [Jonel] Nuezca,” he added.

(If possible, the process should be shortened and there should be a study on providing authority to the Chief PNP to immediately dismiss police officers who commit crooked acts as in the case of Staff Sergeant Nuezca.)

Nuezca is the policeman who shot dead his neighbors Sonya Gregorio, 52, and her son Frank Anthony, 25, last Sunday in Paniqui, Tarlac.

Sinas explained that even if he wants to immediately dismiss Nuezca, the PNP may end up violating rules if it will not follow the proper procedure.

Under present protocols, it is the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the PNP that recommends to the PNP leadership the dismissal of an erring officer.

IAS director Atty. Alfegar Triambulo earlier said his office is hoping to resolve the administrative case against Nuezca within 30 days.

Sinas said he told Dela Rosa that the PNP should be given the authority to immediately dismiss police officers especially if they are caught in flagrante, or in the act of committing a wrongdoing.

“Kagaya ng nangyari kay Nuezca na nakita mo na, may video na, talagang verified na, right then ay pwede na siyang i-dismiss kaagad,” he added.

(Like what happened to Nuezca where he was caught doing the crime, there was a video and it was verified, then he should be dismissed immediately.)

According to Sinas, he and Dela Rosa also agreed that the so-called “ninja cops” should likewise be included in this possible change in the dismissal proceedings for police officers.

“Kung wala kaming dahilan o kaso, hindi namin sila (ninja cops) basta basta madidismiss. Ito rin ang isang dahilan kung bakit napag-agreehan namin ni Sen. Bato na isama na rin ‘yan, kasi kung susundin natin ‘yung operational procedures, ‘yung due process, mahaba po talaga ‘yun,” he said.

(If we do not have a case against ninja cops, we cannot dismiss them. This is one of the reasons why Sen. Bato and I agreed that they should be included. Because if we follow operational procedures and due process, it will really take a long time.)

EDV