New PNP chief targets dirty cops, filthy toilets

It is a bottom-to-top cleanup in the Philippine National Police.

Before getting rid of dirty cops and scalawags, new Philippine National Police chief Director General Ricardo Marquez wants to clean up all filthy toilets in Camp Crame.

On his first flag-raising ceremony on Monday as the PNP chief, Marquez urged police officers and non-uniformed personnel assigned in the police headquarters to work together in maintaining cleanliness in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

“Starting today, ayaw kong makakita ng comfort room na hindi malinis,” (Starting today, I don’t want to see unclean toilets) Marquez said, explaining that it could affect the image of police force.

“All of us at the national headquarters, let’s help each other. Let’s clean our camp. Let’s make sure all comfort rooms are clean,” said Marquez, pointing out the dirty restrooms at the PNP’s Transformation Oval near the Edsa Gate 1.

After delivering a brief message, the PNP chief met with all district directors of Metro Manila to discuss the programs “in the next 12 or 14 months.”

Among the matters Marquez discussed in the meeting was the new disciplinary mechanism in the PNP and the morale of its 160,000 officers.

“You see in the newspapers, you hear in the news about the involvement of some of our members in illegal activities. It would be a tragedy if we don’t do anything to end this,” he said.

At the same time, Marquez said he wanted outstanding policemen recognized and rewarded.

He also discussed the immediate redeployment of policemen to the streets.

“In my assumption speech, I said we should go back to the basic of policing and that’s patrolling. I’d like to see more policemen on the ground because first and foremost, that is our job,” he said.

Marquez also vowed to end the alleged factionalism and “bata-bata (patronage) system” in the organization.

“I also ordered a reform in the policies about placement and promotion to address the sentiments of some sectors and other officers,” he said.