If there is one thing I would want presumptive President Duterte to do, as he stated in his first press conference after the elections, is his warning to all police and soldiers with current or pending criminal or administrative cases to leave the service before he officially sits as the President of the country. He then warned that those who insist on staying will be sent to Jolo to fight the Abu Sayyaf. I would like to see that happen. I have always said that there is nothing worse than a dirty cop or soldier. Cretins hide behind their uniforms and badges in order to commit the gravest of crimes. Granted that not all policemen are scalawags, but those who have tarnished, if not ruined the image of the PNP, for which they have been trying for years to clean up. The public has since been wary of policemen, when in fact they should feel safe around them.
I have also always wondered why policemen who have pending cases against them are still in active service. Why aren't they jailed, or their movements restricted? If they are already accused or suspected of committing crimes, why do they still don the uniforms and badges?
Take the case of Adora Lazatin, whose body was found inside a plastic drum floating on the Pasig River. The drum was weighed down with rocks but failed to sink leading to the discovery. After a good investigation and surveillance by the NBI, five persons were arrested, including three active police officers, including one Insp. Eljie Jacobe,who has a pending criminal case, and another suspected of being involved in kidnap-for-ransom of wives of drug lords in the New Bilibid Prisons. Why weren't Jacobe's movements restricted? He was caught wearing his uniform, implying he still is in active service. Both cops were caught while withdrawing cash from the victim's ATM, which they have apparently been doing since her disappearance. If Jacobe already has criminal tendencies, why allow him to roam scot-free? Adora Lazatin would most likely still be alive if Jacobe were in shackles, figuratively or literally.
Duterte's choice as the next PNP Chief apparently is of the same mold as his patron. In a press conference held at Camp Crame, Supt. Ronald dela Rosa warned criminals and especially drug lords that they would be crushed and buried, complete with the now popular and seemingly accepted expletives the presumptive President liberally utters. He has not hidden his admiration for the Davao City mayor, which he served as its police chief from 2011-2013. His promotion from a one-star general to a four-star general because of the position he will eventually occupy may cause some raised eyebrows, since there are a number of two-star generals who will obviously be by-passed. But that's how it is. It is the President who appoints the PNP Chief. Tough, I guess.
That being so, I hope dela Rosa would first purge the ranks of the PNP. Crime will never be eradicated, not even diminished, if there are criminals in the force. They act as enforcers and protectors of criminal syndicates, if not actually involved in crime themselves like in Jacobe's case. It is obvious dela Rosa talks the talk. Come June 30, we will see if he walks the walk.