Acorda to public: Trust PNP’s internal mechanisms vs erring cops
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. on Wednesday urged the public to trust the PNP’s built-in mechanisms in disciplining its erring personnel.
Acorda made the appeal following the recent involvement of certain police officers in criminal activities that have put the institution’s integrity in a bad light.
“The PNP, as an organization founded on professionalism, is more than equipped to undertake administrative investigation and if the circumstances warrant, render punitive actions against its personnel involved in criminal activities,” Acorda said.
These mechanisms are designed to ferret out the truth first and foremost, and according to Acorda, the same process would also give the opportunity for PNP officers under probe a venue to defend themselves against charges.
He assured the public that in all its internal investigation involving its personnel, the PNP will be transparent and impartial.
“Regardless of rank or position, all PNP personnel who are formally charged administratively will have to subject themselves voluntarily to these processes,” Acorda said.
“Formal hearings and deliberations will be done in all cases before a final verdict is rendered,” he added.
Acorda said the PNP’s Internal Affairs Services (IAS) and the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) are part of the built-in mechanisms within the organization designed to deal with erring personnel involved in criminal activities.
At the same time, Acorda said all disciplinary measures against erring cops should start from the level of all ground commanders.
He also mentioned the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) as another agency tasked by existing laws to address administrative cases involving police officers.
“Let it be known that we have dependable processes that are all designed to probe violations of our internal rules by our own personnel as well as police involvement in outright criminal activities,” Acorda said.
“The entire PNP leadership is determined to apply the full extent of the law to rid the organization of the handful of undesirables who give the entire institution a bad name,” Acorda said.
