Cops lying at Senate probe? ‘Nasasaktan ako,’ says PNP chief Acorda

 Philippine National Police chief Major General Benjamin Acorda Jr.  (INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippine— Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Maj. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. admitted being hurt seeing some of his men lying while being  investigated on their alleged involvement on illegal drugs.

At  a hearing  in the Senate on Tuesday, former  PNP chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa  pointed  out the  “gravity” of the problem in the PNP with  some rogue police officers being dragged into  criminal activities. 

“Please  ibangon mo yung reputasyon ng PNP. Andyan ka inaasahan  ka ng Pangulo na ibangon mo kung ano mang mga kabulastagan  nitong mga tauhan natin,” said Dela Rosa, chairman of the  Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.

(Please restore the reputation of the PNP. The President  is counting on you to rectify any misconduct committed by our personnel)

 The committee  is leading the probe  on the  alleged involvement of  high ranking  police officers  on the so-called massive  attempt to cover up the arrest of  former Police Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr. who was caught with an estimated  P6.7 billion worth of shabu last October.  

“Can you give that assurance to this committee na wala nang magiging investigation na gagawin yung committee on dangerous drugs na ganito kalaki under your stewardship?” Dela Rosa  asked.

(Can you give assurance to this committee that under your stewardship, there will be no further investigations of this magnitude conducted by the committee on dangerous drugs?)

Acorda said yes,  hopeful that the ongoing  probe  would already serve as  an “eye opener” for  erring police officers.

“Sa totoo lang sir, medyo  nasasaktan ako e  every time na nagtatawanan tayo at nagsisinungaling yung ating ibang police na mangilan-ngilan lang. Nasasaktan ako sir,” the police chief said.

(To be honest, sir, I feel a bit hurt every time we laugh about it and some of our police officers, albeit a few, tell lies. It hurts me, sir.)

“And I hope yung ating mga pulis  ngayon na nandito, sana kung wala man  respeto sa sarili  ay  respeto lang  sa pamilya nila at saka  sa uniform at  badge na sinusuot nila hanggang ngayon,”  he added.

(And I hope that our police officers present here today, even if they may lack self-respect, at least have respect for their families and the uniform and badge they wear up until now.)

 Dela Rosa advised  Acorda  to show more teeth in getting rid of rogue police officers.

Acorda just assumed the top PNP post last month.

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