PNP backs creation of special courts for erring cops

The Philippine National Police | PHOTO: Official Gazette website

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police welcomes the legislative initiative that will establish special courts that will handle cases of abuse by police personnel to expedite the resolution of these cases.

Under Senate Bill No. 2331, authored by Senators Richard Gordon, Ronald dela Rosa, and Juan Edgardo Angara, the Supreme Court will designate special courts called “police law enforcement courts,” among existing metropolitan, municipal, municipal circuit, or regional trial courts.

These courts will handle civil and criminal cases involving allegations of abuse of authority by police personnel, regardless of whether they were on-duty or off-duty.

The high court will also designate an appellate police court among the 11 divisions of the Court of Appeals, that will hear all appeals coming from the 12 police courts.

Should it be signed into law, it would amend Section 4 of Presidential Decree No. 1606, as amended by Section 2 of Republic Act No. 10660, giving the Sandiganbayan exclusive original jurisdiction in all cases involving PNP officials with the position of provincial director, and those with ranks of colonel and higher.

“The State shall prosecute rogue police elements through a special court that will provide the public fair, impartial and speedy disposition of complaints for violations of constitutional rights and PNP Operational Procedures and Professional Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards committed by the members of the PNP free from the ‘kabaro system,’” the bill said in its declaration of policy.