DESPITE a slew of criticisms hurled at the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the aftermath of a viral video showing a drunken cop killing a 52-year old woman without any provocation, PNP chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar assured the public that it was an isolated incident which happened while his leadership is undertaking serious reforms in the organization.

“We are serious in pushing for reforms within the police organization. I am exhausting all efforts to get rid of these few police scalawags who put the PNP in a bad light. Kagaya ninyo po, galit ako sa bugok na pulis,” said the PNP chief.

Gen. Eleazar said he understands the public’s outrage over an incident where Police Master Sergeant Hensie Zinampan of the Police Security and Protection Group fatally shot his neighbor Lilibeth Valdez in Barangay Greater Fairview, Quezon City.

The top cop said that despite the presence of a rogue cop like Zinampan, he would like to assure the citizenry that good policemen far outnumber the few rogues in the ranks.

“Naniniwala tayo na higit na mas nakararami pa rin sa ating kapulisan ang nananatiling tapat sa kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin at handang maglingkod sa bayan,” said Gen. Eleazar as critics questioned the PNP organization’s integrity in the wake of the gruesome crime committed by Zinampan.

“Sa mahigit na 220,000 na pulis natin sa PNP, napakaliit na porsyento ang masasabi natin na tiwali o abusado. Nananaig pa rin po ang mga pulis na likas ang pagiging matulungin sa kapwa kahit labas na sa kanilang mandato,” he explained.

Gen. Eleazar also sought the public’s help in weeding out scalawags from the ranks, saying the PNP’s internal cleansing efforts would be more effective if the public reports and lodges complaints against police abuses or involvement in criminal activity.

“While we do our own investigation to weed out rogue policemen from our ranks, we also need the public’s help in ensuring that these few police scalawags are held accountable by reporting them to us through our E-Sumbong na kamakailan ay mas pinalakas natin upang maging mabilis at maayos ang pagtugon sa mga hinaing na idudulog ng ating mga kababayan, kabilang ang mga biktima ng iilang abusadong pulis,” he said.

“Handa po kaming gumawa ng agarang aksyon at magbigay ng proteksiyon sa maghahain ng reklamo,” he assured.

The PNP chief has directed the PNP Internal Affairs Service to fast-track the conduct of summary dismissal proceedings against Zinampan .

The Q.C. Police District headed by Brigadier Gen. Antonio C. Yarra has filed a murder case against the accused before a Q.C. prosecutor’s office.

Gen. Eleazar said that Zinampan will be dismissed from the force as soon as possible as he vowed to personally monitor the legal offensive against the accused.

“Karumal-dumal at hindi katanggap-tanggap ito dahil pulis dapat ang nagpo-protekta sa ating mga kababayan, at hindi ang nag-a-astang kriminal laban sa kanila,” said the PNP chief as he motored to the QCPD Headquarters at Camp Karingal after confronting Zinampan last week.

Based on an initial QCPD investigation, MSgt. Zinampan figured in a scuffle with the son of Valdez on May 1. The daughter of the victim told the police investigators that the policeman threatened to harm them shortly after the incident.

On that fateful night, an apparently drunk Zinampan went to the area where he confronted the victim. A video footage showed the policeman was already holding his gun before he approached the victim.

He then grabbed the victim and shot her at close range. Responding QCPD operatives arrested and disarmed Zinampan.

Gen. Eleazar assured the family that the policeman will be dismissed from the PNP in the soonest possible time.

“On behalf of the men and women of the PNP, taus-puso po akong nakikiramay sa pamilya at humihingi ng paumanhin sa inasal ni Police Master Sergeant Zinampan. Makakaasa ang pamilya na hindi ko palalampasin ito at personal kong tutukan ang mga kaso upang mabigyan ang hustisya ang biktima,” he said.

The top cop said that policemen like PMSgt Zinampan is the main reason why he has been aggressively pushing for a massive reform as early as in the recruitment process, explaining that the corruption and the ‘padrino’ system in the PNP recruitment is the reason why undeserving applicants are able to enter the police service.

“Patuloy ang internal cleansing natin sa mga nakalipas na taon but on my part, we want it to be long-term kaya umpisa pa lang, pigilan na natin na makapasok sa PNP ang mga ganitong klaseng pulis dahil hindi lang nila sinisira ang aming organisasyon kundi nagiging perwisyo din sa taumbayan na dapat naming pinag-lilingkuran at binibigyan ng seguridad,” he said.

“Humihingi din ako ng paumanhin sa ating mga kababayan sa inasal ng kriminal na pulis na ito. IIlan lang ang mga bugok na ito sa aming hanay kaya makakaasa kayo na gagawin ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya upang itama ang mga kamaliang ito para sa proteksyon ng aming organisasyon at para maibalik ang tiwala na taumbayan sa kanilang kapulisan,” Gen. Eleazar added.