PNP lacks guns, top-caliber lawyers

About 11,500 policemen who had not been issued service firearms have acquired their own guns to defend themselves against criminals while patrolling the streets.

The revelation was made yesterday by Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman.

"It is expensive, can you imagine how much it will cost to buy every police officer their own firearms?" he asked.

"A standard service firearm 9mm Beretta can fetch up to P27,000 each."

The 11,500 policemen without guns comprise 10 percent of the 115,000-strong PNP, he added.

On the other hand, Director Enrique Galang, PNP directorial staff chief, said the police force needs lawyers to defend policemen entangled in harassment cases.

Out of the 77 needed by the PNP, only 46 lawyers have signed up this year for the legal service, with a handful failing to comply with the age requirement, he added.

Galang said the PNP is having a hard time placing at least one legal officer in every province covered by the 17 regional police offices.

Galang said lawyers think twice before entering the police service because of the low pay and limited career opportunities.

Once qualified, a lawyer who joins the police force is appointed as senior inspector, he added.

Meanwhile, 192 administrative cases for non-support, abandonment, domestic violence and womanizing have been filed against 15 policemen, including a senior superintendent before the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management between May last year and May this year.

Senior Superintendent Yolanda Tanigue, head of the Women and Children’s Concerns Division, said from September to December last year, they have resolved about 36 cases of financial support, abandonment and domestic violence filed against policemen by their wives or live-in partners.

Eleven cases remain pending and 11 others have been dropped by the complainants, she added.

Tanigue said four other cases have been referred to the investigation division of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management.

Assignment to far-flung places is one reason given by policemen why they have decided to maintain a second family, she added.