Over 7,000 cops dismissed from service since 2016 — PNP

MANILA, Philippines — More than 7,000 members of the police force were dismissed from the service from 2016 to February 2024 due to various administrative cases, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. 

“From July 1, 1016, to February 19, 2024, we have a total of 7,420 dismissed PNP personnel,” Acorda reported during the public order and safety committee hearing on Monday. 

Acorda, however, revealed that about 675 personnel were reinstated or have appealed their discharge and returned to service.  

Last February 22, PNP Spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo disclosed that around 131 officers were dismissed from police service from January 1 to February 14.

She added that most of the now-resolved cases involved officers who went AWOL (absent without leave), while the rest were proven to have committed serious offenses. 

Citing its data, PNP earlier reported that a total of 3,932 police personnel had been meted with administrative penalties from July 1, 2022, to January 3, 2024, which comprised 1.7 percent of the current 232,000-strong PNP force.

Of the figure, the PNP said 985 were dismissed, 230 were demoted, 1,701 were suspended, 694 reprimanded, 109 had their privileges withheld, 134 had their salaries forfeited, and 79 were restricted from leaving their police camps.