The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered an intensified intelligence monitoring on around 3,000 ‘erring’ police officers in an effort to clear the agency’s name amid the issue of ‘ninja cops’ within its ranks. PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. on Tuesday said the derogatory records of these scalawags include involvement in extortion, illegal drugs, among others. ‘We have been monitoring these personalities, ‘yong mga scalawags na ‘yan and my instruction is after (hearing) those adjudications ay talagang (trabahuhin) ng mga intel operatives to make sure that hindi na sila gagawa ng kalokohan (We have been monitoring these personalities, those scalawags and my instruction after hearing those adjudications is that intel operatives will actually work to make sure that they don’t do anything stupid anymore),’ he told reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony on the induction of eight senior officials as major generals and brigadier generals at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday. ‘I am encouraging also ‘yung mga commanders at all level to make sure the counter-intelligence function ng kanilang opisina ay sa level nila ay nagpa-function (of their office is functioning at their level),’ he added. The issue of ‘ninja cops’ or those involved in the alleged recycling of illegal drugs seized from operations back to the street continues to hound the PNP. To address this, Acorda said the PNP will implement radical moves to ensure ‘honest law enforcement operations,’ including the possibility of dissolving the Special Operations Unit of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG). Acorda maintained that erring cops have no place in the organization, especially under his watch as he vowed to implement an intensified internal cleansing. He said the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) would be given ‘more teeth’ to weed the erring personnel out of the service. IMEG is the primary PNP unit going after erring policemen while IAS is in charge of investigating the administrative charges against police officers. Meanwhile, Acorda urged the public to report rogue police officers in their community just as he vowed that he would be ‘quick and decisive’ in their cleansing efforts. ‘We are really going to punish erring personnel but in a way that we are not going to disrespect their uniform… But definitely, we will be harsh to them especially if they are not going to change,’ he said. During the ceremony, Acorda also told the eight promoted senior officials to focus on their institutional priorities when making a decision. ‘[Y]ou should always think of the institutional priorities hence when you make a decision, you should always consider the institution that we serve for kaya with your new rank now, huwag niyo testingin ‘yong powers niyo (don’t test your powers),’ he said in his speech. ‘You have that power already. Do not use (it) as a means to advance personal interest but rather use your rank in upholding institutional development and with that sana (I hope) with your new rank, use it para sa pagkakaisa nating lahat (for our unity),’ he added.
Source: Philippines News Agency