PNP to embark on ‘drastic but necessary’ internal cleansing – Albayalde

PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde. INQUIRER.net / JHOANNA BALLARAN

Newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has vowed to undertake “drastic but necessary” and “difficult but doable” internal cleansing program in the nation’s police force to ensure efficient service to the public.

Albayalde urged his men on Monday to strictly practice discipline, underscoring its importance in order to fulfill their respective duties to the people and nation. He intends to make the PNP’s continuing internal cleansing program as the “hallmark” of his administration.

“This time we’ll breathe discipline 24/7 as we will more firmly implement reforms in all levels in the PNP,” Albayalde said in his first flag-raising ceremony speech at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

“Basta’t may disiplina kayo magkakaroon kayo ng tunay (na) respeto sa sarili at magiging maayos ang inyong serbisyo,” he added.

(As long as you have discipline, you will have true respect for yourselves and your service to the public will get better.)

Albayalde admitted that there are “few misguided souls” in the police ranks “who continue to live on the dark side and refuse to toe the line.”

“There are only a handful of them in our ranks but they can cause more trouble to the organization if we do not take action and allow these people to insist in their own wicked ways,” he said.

“Because discipline shall be the hallmark of my administration, we will all address this concern with utmost urgency and forcefully if necessary,” he added.

According to Albayalde, he will expand the operations of the Counter-Intelligence Task Force – the unit formed by former police chief Ronald dela Rosa to go after rogue and erring policemen.

Albayalde also said the task force should strengthen its information-gathering on police scalawag while the administrative departments of the PNP should fast track the resolution of cases against them.

The PNP chief, however, assured his men that he would listen to them and would be “fair and just.”

Albayalde assumed his position last week, promising to continue his “low-key but stern” kind of leadership.

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