PNP: 211 cops absent in court hearings now face administrative cases

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar. INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has meted out penalties to 211 police officers who did not attend court hearings in cases lodged following police operations.

In a report to PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) said the penalties imposed range from reprimands to dismissals from the police service.

“Ang aming mandato bilang mga pulis ay hindi nagtatapos sa pag-aaresto ng mga nagkasala sa batas. Kasama po sa tungkulin ng ating kapulisan ang pag-attend sa mga pagdinig ng kaso lalo na kung sila ay pinatawag ng korte o sila mismo ang arresting officer,” said Eleazar in a statement.

(Our mandate as police officers does not end with arresting those who break the law. Our duty includes attending the hearings of the case especially if they are summoned by the court or they are the arresting officer themselves.)

“Effective law enforcement demands that criminal elements are not only arrested but are also punished through conviction. So policemen who can’t justify why they failed to appear in court to testify will definitely face administrative cases,” he added.

According to the DIDM, 211 policemen were penalized from January 2020 to June 3, 2021. A total of 83 cops were also dismissed from the service; 31 were demoted in ranks, 92 were suspended, while five were reprimanded.

The DIDM also reported that of the 83 policemen dismissed from the service, 10 were linked to illegal drugs cases filed by the PNP.

Meanwhile, the DIDM added that there are still 1,428 pending administrative cases being resolved for non-appearance in both drug and non-drug-related court cases.

Eleazar ordered the DIDM to submit a report detailing the reasons why police officers are failing to appear in court cases.

“Pag-aaralan at hahanapan natin ng paraan kung paano tiyakin ang pagharap sa korte ng ating kapulisan bilang mga testigo sa lahat ng kaso na aming isinasampa sa korte.  Mahalaga ang papel na kanilang gagampanan para siguraduhin na mahatulan ng pagkakakulong  ang ating mga nahuhuling lumalabag sa batas,” Eleazar said.

(We will study this and find ways to ensure that our police officers appear in court as witnesses in all the cases we have filed in court. They play an important role in ensuring that those arrested are sent to jail.)

“Mababalewala lang ang ating panghuhuli dahil kung hindi natin titiyakin na sila ay mananagot sa batas, makababalik lang sila sa ating mga komunidad upang magbenta ulit ng droga at perwisyuhin ang ating mga kababayan,” he added.

(Our arrests will only be in vain if we do not ensure that they will be held accountable. They will just return to our communities to sell drugs again and harm our countrymen.)

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