PNP chief, Gen. Camilo Cascolan. (PNA file photo by Avito Dalan)
MANILA – More than 4,000 police officers were dismissed from the service as part of the intensified internal cleansing program of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the country's top cop said on Monday.
“Of (the) total number of personnel found guilty of administrative offenses, 4,591 were summarily dismissed from the service for serious infractions, while 7,888 were meted suspension terms and 846 cops were demoted in rank,” PNP chief, Gen. Camilo Cascolan, said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.
Cascolan said these policemen were punished for their involvement in criminal activity including illegal drugs, grave misconduct, serious neglect of duty, serious irregularity, malversation, dishonesty, and graft and corruption.
He said 608 erring personnel were penalized with forfeiture of salary, 119 were restricted to quarters, and privileges of 205 others were withheld.
Among those dismissed from the service, 549 were for drug-related cases comprising 410 who tested positive for drug use and 139 for involvement in illegal drug activities, Cascolan noted.
“The PNP Internal Cleansing Program doesn’t stop there, rather it will continue to be implemented with greater zeal and commitment in the best interest of transparency and accountability in public service,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cascolan reiterated that he would not tolerate illegal and immoral activities of police officers.
"We will not tolerate any wrongdoings of our people. As what I've said, kung wala kang reason (if you do not have a valid reason), we will have to arrest you, file cases against you, put you in jail," Cascolan said.
Cascolan made the remark after Custodial Service Unit chief, Lt. Col. Jigger Noceda, was charged for sexually assaulting former Ozamiz City vice mayor Nova Princess Parojinog who is detained at the facility.
Noceda is charged with rape, acts of lasciviousness, unjust vexation, and a violation of the Safe Spaces Act filed by the PNP Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) based on the affidavit submitted by Parojinog.
Cascolan said the PNP Internal Affairs Service would conduct its own investigation on the incident.
He added that Parojinog's family is still assessing where it would file administrative complaints against the police official.
"On the filing of administrative cases, the family of Nova is still contemplating whether they would be filing elsewhere or whether with the Ombudsman. But IAS was also directed to actually investigate," said Cascolan.
Sought for comment on Noceda's alleged involvement in a case of police brutality in Carmona, Cavite in 2015, Cascolan said the Personnel Accounting Information System should have checked his personnel files and records before he was assigned to another post.
"I believe there was a case filed against him during that (incident). At the same time, we will see to it that our people will always be following the rule of law and not violating human rights," he said.
Noceda is presently under restrictive custody of the PNP Headquarters Support Service.
Parojinog was detained at the PNP Custodial Center, which is managed by Noceda, on drug and illegal possession of firearms charges following the raid by the police in their residence in July 2017.
Her father, then Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and at least 14 others were killed during the raid. (PNA)
