PNP finalizing psych test guidelines for cops

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police Health Service is finalizing the guidelines for psychological tests for PNP personnel following the shooting rampage inside the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters that left two officers dead and another wounded on Friday night.

“This incident at the MPD, along with the previous ones, highlight the need for us to closely look into the mental health of our men,” PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said over the weekend.

Executive M/Sgt. Reynante Dipasupil was killed in a firefight with his colleagues after he barged into the police headquarters and fired at different offices, including the drug enforcement unit and the office of MPD director Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco.

Eleazar ordered the MPD to probe the incident.

“Kailangan alamin ng MPD ang tunay na dahilan, bukod sa kalasingan, kung bakit nag-amok at namaril itong si Dipasupil ng kanyang mga kabaro,” he said.

Eleazar said he was considering psychiatric and psychological examination for police officers every three years, especially those involved in ground operations.

Dipasupil was reportedly drunk and seemed to have a personal problem. His wife, also a member of the MPD, could not ascertain this, according to MPD spokesman Capt. Philipp Ines.

Ines told The STAR yesterday that Dipasupil had a good record in the police force, having been in the service for nearly two decades.

According to a witness, Dipasupil shouted at a police officer on duty at the district police intelligence and operations unit, where he was assigned, that he had a personal problem.

“Huwag ka na sumama sa problema ko. That is what he told the sentinel on duty,” Ines said.

Dipasupil used a Galil assault rifle and his service pistol in his shooting rampage.

M/Sgt. Romeo Cantal, the police officer shot dead by Dipasupil, was set to retire.

Cantal approached Dipasupil to calm him down because they knew each other, according to Ines.

“Cantal wanted to convince him to surrender,” Ines said, adding that his last words to Dipasupil were “Bakit mo ako binaril?”

S/Sgt. Reynaldo Cordova was wounded in the shooting and declared out of danger.

Francisco ordered all MPD station commanders to evaluate the mental health of their personnel to prevent another similar incident.

The MPD supported the move of Eleazar to improve the psychiatric and psychological evaluations of police officers.

Ines said the mental health evaluation should be a basis for them to get help, instead of a ground for being relieved from the police service.

“Police officers tend to act tough, the stereotype that they are strong. Mental health is everyone’s problem, especially those who are vulnerable. I hope the people understand this, that this is everyone’s problem,” Ines said.

Francisco also ordered a probe of police officers who killed Dipasupil, to determine if the rules of engagement were followed, Ines added. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab