MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) remains committed to organizational discipline and internal reforms as it dismissed from the service a total of 1,828 rogue personnel for various infractions.
"The PNP has sustained the momentum of its continuing internal cleansing program in the 190,000-strong police force over the past two years under the Duterte administration when organizational discipline and internal reform became the centerpiece of the service agenda of PNP Chief (Oscar) Albayalde," PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Benigno Durana said in a statement Thursday.
Durana said the figures are among the 6,401 errant PNP personnel who were meted administrative penalties for various offenses ranging from involvement in criminal activity, grave misconduct, serious neglect of duty, involvement in criminal cases, serious irregularity, malversation, dishonesty, and graft and corruption.
Likewise penalized were 3,589 personnel with suspension terms, 362 demoted in rank, 403 reprimanded, 147 penalized with salary forfeiture, 43 withheld privileges and 29 restricted to quarters.
Aside from those penalized for administrative offenses, 498 more personnel were investigated for drug-related cases including 266 who tested positive for drug use and 232 for involvement in drug activity.
A total of 261 uniformed and non-uniformed personnel who tested positive for drug use were dismissed from the service while 23 were suspended and nine demoted for involvement in drug activity.
Albayalde earlier reiterated the prompt processing of cases of erring policemen following a number of police Non-Commissioned Officers who were entrapped for kidnap-for-ransom and extortion activities.
"However frustrating it is, hindi tayo bibigay dito (We will not give in). We will continue on. We will be relentless in resolute in our internal cleansing," Albayalde said.
On Tuesday, a Taguig policeman allegedly involved in kidnap-for-ransom activities was killed while three others were arrested in an encounter with fellow cops.
Meanwhile, another three policemen were nabbed for allegedly extorting money from junk shop owners in Valenzuela City. (PNA)
