DILG chief says PNP ‘shamed’ by sleeping, drinking cops

FILE PHOTO – Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año. Photo by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año did not mince words when he denounced the acts of 18 cops who were recently caught sleeping and drinking while on duty by their chief, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde.

Año said the cops who were found snoozing and drinking in their stations were a “shame” to the police force.

The former military chief said the cops – 14 officers and four station commanders – would be meted out with penalties for dereliction of duty, conduct unbecoming, and other administrative charges.

“Kahiya-hiya para sa buong kapulisan ang ginawa nila,” he said in a statement.

Año said the 18 erring policemen were not deserving of the substantial increase in their salary as they prove to be “a disgrace” to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Walang karason-rason para maging tamad o tiwali ang mga pulis ngayon dahil doble na ang sahod nila.  Pero imbis na maging mas masipag at masigasig sa pagpapatrolya at pagtugis sa kriminal ang 18 pulis na ito, tutulog-tulog pa sila sa trabaho,” he said.

Upon President Duterte’s orders, the salary of lowest ranking policeman or Police Officer 1 now receives P29,668, or a 100 percent increase from the previous P14,834 monthly basic pay.

Last Wednesday, Albayalde conducted a surprise inspection of different police stations in Metro Manila. To his surprise, cops, including some commanders, were either sleeping or drinking in their respective stations.

The 18 cops have since been relieved from their posts and have been stripped of their service firearms and badges.  /muf