PNP: 2 cops axed daily in 2019

MANILA, Philippines — An average of two police officers a day were dismissed from the service due to corruption and other illegal activities, Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said yesterday.

Since he was named officer-in-charge of the PNP two months ago, Gamboa said a total of 87 police officers accused of various grave offenses such as involvement in the illegal drug trade were kicked outfrom the police force.

“On average, two police officers are dismissed every day,” he said in Filipino during a television interview.

From January to November this year, at least 966 lawmen who committed grave offenses were dismissed.

Gamboa has intensified the PNP’s internal cleansing program following the controversies that hounded his predecessor, former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde.

Albayalde went on non-duty status last October, almost a month before his mandatory retirement, due to allegations he protected “ninja cops” or police officers involved in the recycling of prohibited narcotics.

Gamboa, who is also a lawyer, stressed the need to improve the image of the police force after the issues that hounded Albayalde.

“Ginagawa namin lahat ng paraan para malinis ‘yung kapulisan (We are doing everything to cleanse the police force) in all aspects,” he said.

Gamboa refused to comment when asked if he feels President Duterte will name him as the next PNP chief.

The other candidates for the top post are police deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan and Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, the chief of directorial staff of the PNP.