Gun-toting cop prompts PNP to revisit sanctions on rogue personnel

The arrest of a Manila policeman, who was caught for his involvement in separate robbery, kidnapping and gun-toting incidents, prompted the Philippine National Police (PNP) to revisit its policies on sanctioning wayward cops.

PO2 Manuel Fuentes, assigned at Moriones Police Station, was presented before Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento and the PNP leadership on Wednesday by Manila Police head Chief Superintendent Rolando Nana.

The recidivist offender went AWOL since September after he was charged with kidnapping in July. He was also accused of robbery in September last year.

Fuentes was recently captured on a security camera pointing his service firearm to a village watchman in Tondo, Manila.

Before threatening to harm the “tanod,” Nana said Fuentes pointed his gun to some residents in Barangay (village) 232, Zone 21 as he demanded them to produce “shabu” or metamphetamine hydrochloride.

Fuentes was arrested on Tuesday night when he went to the barangay hall to apologize to the authorities.

Sarmiento said cops like Fuentes have no place in the 160,000-strong police force.

“Ang dami niya na palang kaso na ginagawa. Nagtataka rin tayo, ang dami na palang kaso pero bakit suspension lang ang nabigay sa kanya noon,” said Sarmiento.

He said if Fuentes was able to go scot-free, the PNP and the National Police Commission should reassess the processing of complaints against erring cops.

Sarmiento raised the need to reinvent the people’s law enforcement board (PLEB) or an entity receiving citizens’ complaint against abusive policemen.

“Unfortunately, marami po sa ating mga kababayan ay hindi alam ang PLEB but we are going to reinvent it. We have to make things a bit simpler para ‘yung process mas mabili,” he said.

Fuentes is currently detained at the Manila Police District pending the filing of criminal and administrative charges against him. Julliane Love de Jesus