MANILA, Philippines — Around 5,000 employees of the Philippine National Police have been dismissed from the service since 2016.
Data from the PNP showed that from July 1, 2016, to March 24, 2021, 28 percent or a total of 4,974 police officers were dismissed, out of the 17,786 employees penalized.
Gen. Debold Sinas, chief of the PNP, alone has dismissed 252 employees since assuming the post on Nov. 10, 2020.
The PNP said a total of 617 employees — 604 police officers and officials, and 13 nonuniformed personnel — were dismissed from the service for drug-related cases.
Half of those penalized were suspended (8,806), while 11 percent (1,973) were merely reprimanded. Others were demoted (943), had their salaries forfeited (716), had their privileges withheld (242) or placed under restrictive custody (132).