Palace: ‘Bad eggs’ in PNP constitute ‘exception rather than the rule’

(File Photo) Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. IMAGE from the PCOO Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — “Bad eggs” within the police force are just an exception rather than the rule, Malacañang said Monday as it vowed to investigate the alleged killing of a 16-year old and his companion in the hands of policemen.

Ten police officers were placed under restrictive custody due to allegations that they summarily killed Jhondy Maglinte, 16, and his companion Antonio Dalis in a supposed shootout.

“Hindi ko po alam ang mga pangyayari sa mga kasong sinabi mo pero sisiguraduhin ko po na matapos ito, tatawagan ko si Gen. [Guillermo] Eleazar para magkaroon ng imbestigasyon dito sa mga ito,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing when sought to comment on the incident.

(I don’t know what happened in the cases you’ve mentioned but I will make sure that after this briefing, I will call Gen. Eleazar to conduct an investigation.)

“There are 240,000 PNP [Philippine National Police] personnel. Siguro kung merong mga bugok, they constitute the exception rather than the rule,” he went on.

(There is 240,000 PNP personnel. If there are bad eggs, they constitute the exception rather than the rule.)

Asked how can the public assurance that the government is on top of the situation in addressing reported killings by policemen, Roque said: “Because we will investigate, prosecute and punish those who will violate the law.”

Roque also noted that President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly said erring police officers are on their own.

“‘Ang pulis suportado ko kayo kung kayo ay legal ang ginagawa. Pero kung illegal po ang ginagawa niyo, you’re on your own.’ Ilang beses naman po sinabi ng Presidente yan sa kanyang Talk to the People,” Roque said.

(I support policemen if they do things legally. But if they do it illegally, you’re on your own. The President has said this many times in his Talk to the People.)

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