PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil has reiterated his ‘zero-tolerance policy’ towards policemen who commit misconduct and abuse.

“The PNP is fully dedicated to upholding the law and ensuring that every police officer adheres to the strictest code of conduct. Misconduct and abuse will be met with the full force of our internal disciplinary mechanisms,” he said.

Last week, Gen. Marbil ordered the disarming and jailing of three Bulacan policemen accused of involvement in a multimillion peso robbery in Balagtas, Bulacan.

According to PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean S. Fajardo, the PNP chief instructed the PNP Internal Affairs Service to take cognizance of the administrative case against the accused which include a police major and two non-commissioned officers.

Fajardo said she was told by the officer-in-charge of the Bulacan Police Provincial Office, Col. Satur L. Ediong, that they are building enough evidence needed to ensure a very tight case against the three.

The PNP spokesperson said that under a new Department of Justice circular, police need to gather prima facie evidence against arrested suspects before filing a formal complaint against them.

She said that it appears that one of the accused policemen was known to the victim and could possibly have masterminded the caper.

All accused said they will only answer the charges against them in the proper court.

At least four other suspects are still being hunted with the Bulacan police investigating if they are policemen or civilians.

Investigators are also looking at previous robbery-holdup cases in the province which could have been possibly perpetrated by the suspects.

Col. Fajardo said that Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. wants to know if it was only the ‘first robbery incident’ involving the same group of suspects.

An initial investigation showed that the robbery took place at the Saint Francis Subdivision in Brgy. Borol 2nd, Balagtas, Bulacan at around 10:00 a.m. last Wednesday.

The victim was a 35-year-old businessman and pharmaceutical supplier who claimed he was robbed by seven armed men.

Follow-up operations conducted by the Bulacan PPO led to the arrest of the suspects in the same evening.

First to be arrested was a 48-year-old Police Staff Sergeant assigned at the Malolos City Police Station followed by a 55-year-old police major from the Hagonoy Municipal Police Station and lastly, a 43-year-old Police Senior Master Sergeant from the Sta. Maria MPS.

“This underscores the PNP’s commitment to maintaining integrity and professionalism within the organization. The time for complacency is over. We will not tolerate any form of misconduct within our ranks,” he said.

Acknowledging instances of wrongdoing by some officers, Gen. Marbil reiterated the PNP’s dedication to accountability and pledged to thoroughly investigate those involved in misconduct.

The PNP-Internal Affairs Service (IAS) reported that administrative charges were filed against 6,256 personnel from July 2022 to July 2024.

Of those charged, around 2,550 are already facing administrative penalties ranging from reprimand to dismissal. Additionally, 572 personnel were recommended for dismissal due to various infractions, including going on AWOL (Absence Without Official Leave) and other criminal and administrative charges.

Gen. Marbil has also directed increased police visibility, quicker response times, and closer collaboration with the DOJ to ensure fair prosecution. These measures have already yielded positive results, as evidenced by recent IAS reports.

The PNP chief likewise emphasized the need for expedited police investigations, setting new timelines of 5-10 days for minor cases and 2 months for more serious offenses.

He however also stressed the importance of providing legal support to officers facing counter-charges, recognizing the challenges they often encounter.

Gen. Marbil’s call on his men to be proud of their uniform comes amid his uncompromising policy against abusive policemen and those who are involved in illegal activities.