Poe seeks probe results on erring policemen

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Grace Poe called on the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Philippine National Police to come out with the report on the investigations on policemen involved in killings and illegal activities under the Duterte administration.

Since President Duterte assumed office last June 30, the government has undertaken an intensified campaign against illegal drugs, which has resulted in the deaths of close to 4,000 individuals.

Around 1,700 of the total were killed during legitimate police operations while the rest were classified as deaths under investigation or unsolved cases.

In asking for an update on the investigation of the IAS, Poe said that the appropriate charges should be filed against erring members of the PNP, if any.

 “We must ensure that we have a highly efficient and competent police force with the primary duty to protect the people. Rogue policemen have no place in the PNP in that full public trust to the police must be upheld,” Poe said.

Citing a report from the PNP, Poe noted that a total of 1,261 investigations have been conducted with regard to the killing of suspects in anti-illegal drug operations.

Of the total, 547 policemen have been charged with administrative complaints, 356 investigations are still pending, 27 policemen have been terminated, 302 cases dropped and closed, 28 submitted for summary hearing, and one submitted to disciplinary authorities following the resolution of the case by IAS.

As for the more than 159,000 policemen tested for illegal drugs, 164 tested positive for illegal drug use.

Chief Superintendent Leo Angelo Leuterio, head of IAS, said last month they could not provide a timeline on when such cases against policemen will be resolved.

However, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno on Tuesday called for a speedy investigation to rid the agency of scalawags and address irregularities within the force.