Shame campaign vs police scalawags eyed

CEBU, Philippines — If he had his way, Cebu City Police Office director Senior Supt. Joel Doria would have wanted a shame campaign against police scalawags.

Doria said he is in favor of presenting erring members of the Philippine National Police to the media. He, however, said a directive from the national headquarters is necessary to be able to do it.

The police official urged the scalawags in uniform to get out from the service.

"If hindi ka marunong sumunod sa patakaran ng PNP umalis ka sa serbisyo," he said.

Doria said there is no directive yet from the national headquarters allowing them to parade police scalawags in front of the media.

"Wala pa po kaming na receive na memo tungkol doon,” he said.

The Commission on Human Rights also reminded the police official to uphold the presumption of innocence even if the suspects are law enforcers themselves.

CHR chief investigator Leo Villarino said it may sound laudable to present to the public through the media these rogue policemen to show that the agency is serious in its internal cleansing but due process and human rights must be respected.

Villarino said that whether the suspect is a law enforcer or an ordinary citizen, they enjoy the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

He said that police scalawags should be proven guilty first by presenting substantial evidence before any public condemnation should be made. The CHR-7 official also recommended that crime suspects should not be presented to the media.

Doria said he is with the CHR as far as adherence to policy is concerned.

"We are with the CHR and also just to remind our personnel not to violate, ito kasing ibang kapulisan nakakalimutan ang mga hindi nila dapat gawin. Dapat umalis na lang sila sa serbisyo," he said.

Doria said they are currently encouraged to inform the media on arrests of police scalawags. However, a memorandum from PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde does not allow the presentation to the media.

"Actually ang nangyayari sa atin, binibigay naman natin ang info when it comes to PNP personnel involved in illegal drugs. Although we are not allowed to present it to the media, but still we provide the information as to their involvement and part ng internal cleansing kung ano ang direktiba sa taas, "he said.

He said that the CCPO has always been very serious in implementing policies in line with the internal cleansing. He cited the case of the late Police Senior Insp. Raymund Hortezuela who was transferred to Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office over reports that he was protecting the illegal activities of slain drug lord Jeffrey "Jaguar" Diaz.

"We always implement it (policies) precisely the fact kaya wala na siya (Hortezuela) sa atin is because we received the information kaya na-relieve siya," Doria said.

He said that there are specific teams assigned to conduct counter surveillance operations.

"Meron tayong specific teams nagka-conduct ng surveillance background check sa lahat ng personnel sa CCPO. Tatanggalin natin lahat (ng) undesirable," he said.

Hortezuela was killed Sunday evening during a buy-bust operation conducted by the members of Counter-Intelligence Task Force, Regional Special Operations Group-7, and Drug Enforcement Unit of Mandaue City Police Office. (FREEMAN)