Abalos: Command responsibility to be applied for PNP wrongdoing

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police will strictly enforce the principle of command responsibility amid controversies that have hit the PNP, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said yesterday.

“It was discussed by the command group the issue of operational procedure, including command responsibility. It is important that we uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ethics,” Abalos said.

The principle of command responsibility, he added, is covered under Executive Order 226 and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) Memorandum Circular 95-03.

“It is important that under command responsibility, the immediate superior should be liable as we have 228,000 police,” Abalos said, citing Executive Order 226, which says the immediate superior is liable for neglect of duty.

“The doctrine of command responsibility is applicable if he has knowledge that the crime is committed and despite the knowledge, he did not do anything after its commission, when the irregularities and illegal acts are widespread within his area of jurisdiction or members of his immediate staff are involved,” he pointed out.

According to Abalos, the Napolcom MC Number 95-03 also provides that the commander shall be held responsible not only for the misconduct, abuse of authority or criminal offence committed by his subordinates, but also for “gross inefficiency and vicious or immoral habits of the officer and personnel under him.”

“If the consequence affected the whole PNP or the whole country, the responsibility may be determined by an investigation up to the level of the chief PNP,” Abalos noted.

He added that PNP chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. could also use his discretion on the issue of three-strike policy.

“There is a wide latitude for the chief PNP. He could immediately remove an official. We will give that discretion to the chief PNP. The three-strike policy will not be followed,” he noted.