3-strike policy on commanders who fail to discipline bad cops

While the Philippine National Police (PNP) is taking a break from its anti-drug campaign, the national police leadership is strictly enforcing its “three-strike policy” against commanders who will fail to discipline their personnel as part of the PNP’s intensified internal cleansing drive.

The PNP issued a memorandum circular called the “PNP Internal Cleansing Strategy” last week reminding all commanders that they will be relieved if three of their personnel will be caught engaging in unlawful activities.

READ: PNP starts war on bad cops

In a press conference at Camp Crame on Monday, PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said this disciplinary mechanism was crafted to “emphasize the concept of command responsibility.”

“The commander must be informed, must know everything, must be on top of the situation. Huwag kang mag-commander dyan kung pakaangkaang ka,” the tough-talking chief said.

Under the PNP Memorandum Circular No. 2017-13, unit commanders will face administrative relief and will be transferred to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (PHAU) on the basis of the following:

*If three personnel of a particular unit were found positive in drug test;

*If their personnel are caught by other units for involvement in heinous and high-profile crimes;

*If they fail to take immediate action on reports of involvement in illegal activities of their personnel that are brought to their attention.

In the same press briefing, Deputy Director General Fernando Mendez Jr., PNP’s Deputy Chief of Staff, explained the mechanisms of the relief of officials.

“In the regional level, if three provincial directors are relieved based on these reasons, the regional director will be relieved. In the district level, if three station commanders were relieved, the district director will be relieved. In the provincial level, if three chiefs of police are relieved, the provincial director will be relieved,” Mendez said.

Police Community Precinct commanders and other equivalent units will also be relieved if any of their personnel is caught by other units for involvement in extortion, “hulidap” and other similar activities.

He said the PNP also wants to teach some officials who “merely enjoy the perks of being a commander” a lesson.

“May iba dyan ayaw magtrabaho, ayaw makiaalam sa kalokohan ng mga kanyang mga tauhan hanggang sa naging sindikato na ‘yung mga tao niyan,” he said.

After the press conference, Dela Rosa presided over a command conference attended by all commanders of national support units, regional and district directors to assess the internal cleansing efforts on the ground.

The PNP has formed the counterintelligence task force composed of members of different units including the elite Special Action Force, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Intelligence Group to spearhead its campaign against bad cops./rga