Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia INQUIRER.net file photo / JEAN MANGALUZ
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has abolished its “quota” system for its members’ accomplishments, according to deputy director general for administration Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia.
Sermonia answered this on Monday when reporters asked if the quota system has something to do with the increasing cases of crimes involving erring cops.
He likewise revealed that the police force had already been directed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., and its chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. to stop this quota system.
“We have sat down with SOJ [secretary of Justice] about that quota system, and that was the first directive of our CPNP [Benjamin] Acorda, and of course, it was the directive of our SILG to stop that quota system na sinasabi ninyo (that you were talking about),” Sermonia told reporters in a press conference on Monday.
A quota system requires policemen to make a minimum number of arrests every week as part of their accomplishments.
“And alam po namin yon kaya nga napepressure yung mga operatives noon pero ngayon po yun po ang kauna-unahang direktiba ng ating CPNP [na alisin yung quota],” he added.
(We know that this is why our operatives were pressured before, but now that’s the first directive of our CPNP to remove the quota.)
However, Abalos quickly clarified that although the quota system has already been abolished, the police force would still monitor police districts and their respective area of jurisdiction.
“For example sa isang lugar sobrang daming drugs papa-verify namin yan pwedeng patangal kaagad andun naman yung mekanismo ng ‘yon pero wala ng quota system na sinasabi,” the DILG chief stressed.
(For example, if drug cases are prevalent in a specific area, then we will verify it and have the person in charge be removed from his position. There is a mechanism, but there is no quota system.)
RELATED STORIES:
3-strike policy for erring cops must be flexible, says Abalos
6 cops involved in killing a teen in Navotas face homicide charges