Civilian heads PNP internal affairs

A civilian has been appointed by President Duterte to head the Philippine National Police’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS).

Lawyer Alfegar Triambulo, former Davao Region director of the National Police Commission, was named IAS chief with the rank of inspector general, PNP Director-General Ronald dela Rosa confirmed on Thursday.

In a television interview, Triambulo said one of his priorities in IAS is to strengthen its intelligence division so that it can efficiently go after scawalags as part of the PNP’s “internal cleansing.”

“I want the public not to entertain doubts, that there is bias, whitewashing and partiality in our decisions involving policemen,” Triambulo said.

Triambulo took over from Chief Insp. Leo Angelo Leuterio, who has been overseeing the IAS as acting deputy inspector general.

Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, has been one of the most vocal politicians in calling for the appointment of a civilian to head IAS.

The IAS investigates policemen, on its own or upon complaint from the public, for violations of police procedures and other regulations. It may also dismiss administratively the erring policemen.

Section 40 of the Republic Act No. 8551 or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 mandates that the IAS should be headed by civilians.