WARY of the presence of good cops facing so-called ‘harassment suits’ by moneyed lawbreakers, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. now wants an immediate study on the possible creation of a legal office that will defend Philippine National Police (PNP) officers and men from crime suits.

The Commander-in-Chief is eyeing in particular a PNP “defense council” that will protect police officers against harassment and flimsy accusations while performing their job.

Such harassment cases are mostly filed by suspected drug personalities, illegal recruiters and gambling operators who have the money to hire expensive lawyers.

Speaking during the 2nd PNP Command Conference at Camp Crame, President Marcos said the legal office within the police organization will shield police officers from various complaints that are being “weaponized” against them.

“Mayroon at mayroon silang tatakbuhan kaagad na abogado just to give them advice and it will be internal, so hindi na sila magbayad. Pag-aralan natin nang mabuti because ginagawang weapon, wine-weaponize ‘yung kaso.

So, kapag nahuli ‘yung kriminal, huling-huli na, pero magaling abogado tapos walang kalaban-laban naman ‘yung ating pulis,” the President told PNP chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil.

The presidential directive came amid pronouncements by Gen. Marbil that the PNP will provide members of the police force honest-to-goodness legal assistance and a health card.

Marbil cited their ongoing talks with the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund, Inc. (PSMBFI) which has committed to provide millions of pesos to provide adequate legal assistance to policemen facing harassment suits.

The official said that PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lieutenant Gen. Emmanuel B. Peralta is leading the effort as they know fully well that in many cases, policemen slapped with counter-charges in the performance of their duties are forced to spend money from their own pocket.

Instead of donating cars and other equipment to the police force, the PNP chief said the PSMBFI can support their legal assistance program financially.

A portion of the fund donated by the PSMBFI will be allocated to enhance the capabilities of the PNP-LS. If successful, PSMBFI has committed an additional P240 million over the next five years to sustain the program.

“As I have said, our priority is to help the police. Charity begins at home they say kaya ang bilin ko nga sa DPCR (Directorate for Police-Community Relations), ensure that their programs will benefit the police and their immediate family,” he said.

The PNP-LS, through its Panyerong Pulis @ Ur Serbis 24/7, provides on-the-spot legal assistance exclusively to PNP personnel in need of immediate legal consultation through multimedia modes of communication such as internet, facsimile, landline and cellular phones.

The program also answers legal queries regarding PNP operational concerns, criminal and civil procedures salient features of relevant laws and issuances and determination of appropriate action to be undertaken or case to be filed against the offender depending on the facts of a given case.

The project proponents say that policemen with various pending cases shall be the primary clients of the program although not all policemen feel that they have to resort to hiring private lawyers to defend themselves from harassment suits.