(PNA file photo)
MANILA – Despite the series of incidents involving police officers in violent crimes, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Wednesday assured the public that reforms will rid the force of scalawags within its ranks.
“We are serious in pushing for reforms within the police organization. I am exhausting all efforts to get rid of these few police scalawags who put the PNP in a bad light. Kagaya ninyo po, galit ako sa bugok na pulis (Like you all, I hate rotten and undisciplined police officers)," he said in a statement.
Eleazar said he understands the public’s outrage over last Monday night’s incident where Master Sgt. Hensie Zinampan fatally shot 52-year-old Lilibeth Valdez in Barangay Greater Fairview, Quezon City.
He assured the public that good policemen far outnumber the few rogues in the ranks as critics questioned the organization’s integrity over Zinampan’s crime.
“Sa mahigit na 220,000 na pulis natin sa PNP, napakaliit na porsyento ang masasabi natin na tiwali o abusado. Nananaig pa rin po ang mga pulis na likas ang pagiging matulungin sa kapwa kahit labas na sa kanilang mandato (On the over 220,000 police force, the number of scalawags or those engaged in corruption is so small. A lot of our police officers are still very good public servants and willing to help and serve their fellow Filipinos outside of their mandate)," Eleazar said.
He sought the public’s help in weeding out scalawags from the ranks, saying the PNP’s internal cleansing efforts would be more effective if the public reports and lodges complaints against police abuses or involvement in criminal activity.
Eleazar earlier directed the Internal Affairs Service to fast-track summary dismissal proceedings against Zinampan while the Quezon City Police District filed a murder charge against him in the city prosecutor’s office. (PNA)
