Amid the so-called “ninja cops” issue, a lawmaker on Monday urged Congress to expedite the approval of proposals that seek to strengthen the internal affairs mechanism of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles said the ongoing Senate probe on “ninja cops” which tagged former PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde as a protector should now compel Congress to separate the power and authority of the internal affairs service from the sphere of influence of the entire PNP leadership including the director general.
The “ninja cops” is a term coined for rogue policemen involved in recycling confiscated illegal drugs.
Under the present set-up, the lawmaker said the brotherhood system among members of the PNP has diminished the integrity of the existing internal affairs service amid allegations of cover-up by top police officials on the wrongdoings of their subordinates.
In a statement, Nograles said his House Bill 3065 seeks to amend the Republic Act 8551 or Philippine National Police Reform Reorganization act of 1998 to create an Internal Affairs Service that is outside of the PNP chain-of-command.
“The Internal Affairs Service of the PNP is an essential part of the disciplinary mechanism of the PNP. It serves as the monitoring body of the character and behaviour of all policemen and operates as the investigating and adjudicatory body on all administrative offenses committed by PNP personnel,” Nograles said in his bill.
“As the office that oversees the conduct of the uniformed personnel, the IAS should be free from influence, pressure and intervention from the Chief PNP, and other high-ranking PNP officers in adjudicating administrative cases,” Nograles said.
The bill wants the IAS to be removed from the supervision and control of the PNP Chief and transfer this to the the direct supervision of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.
Apart from investigating and adjudicating administrative wrongdoings of PNP personnel, it also seeks to empower the IAS to have recommendatory powers in the selection and promotion of PNP personnel.
The IAS could also provide assistance to the Office of the Ombudsman and other PNP Disciplinary Offices in cases involving PNP personnel. It can also recommend the admission to the witness protection program of the Department of Justice of witnesses who are vital to the prosecution of PNP Personnel involved in criminal cases.
Nograles said the proposed IAS will have its own organizational hierarchy which will be headed by an Inspector General. It will establish regional, provincial, city and municipal offices nationwide, with a separate staffing pattern and mode of recruitment for its personnel.
COA confirmation
Meanwhile, Rep. Lawrence Fortun of Agusan del Norte said police generals and colonels should be subject to the confirmation of the Commission on Appointments (CA) as it has constitutional power over presidential appointments to the top ranks in the PNP.
“The Commission on Appointments has constitutional confirmation authority over the Philippine National Police generals and colonels. Not only because Republic Act 6975 says so, but because that was the intent of the 1987 Constitution,” he said.
The 1987 Constitution provides that: “The President shall nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, appoint the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, or officers of the armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain.” RA 6975 established in 1990 the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police.
Also, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin said the PNP should have a stringent vetting process at each stage of the promotions process for every police officer vying for any command post from local chief of police and upwards the career ladder.
“Currently, they are not subject under CA. The DILG Act of 1990 (RA 6975) does not expressly provide for a vetting process, but there are examinations given by Napolcom and the Civil Service Commission,” said Garbin.
Garbin, the House justice committee vice chairman, said the practice that “officers seeking command post promotions ask for and get endorsements from various officials, but there is no strict vetting.”
“In RA 6975, Napolcom was given broad powers of administrative supervision and performance evaluation and there is also the People’s Law Enforcement Board, but there is no vetting process to investigate and weed out PNP officers with links to organized crime, rogue cops, unethical practices, and conflicts of interest,” he said.
Garbin suggested that “the Napolcom and PLEBs should be empowered to vet officers for promotion prior to the recommendation phase to the President.”
“The Civil Service Commission, Ombudsman, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Anti-Money Laundering Council, and Professional Regulatory Commission should also work with Napolcom on conducting thorough lifestyle checks on police generals, as well as colonels, majors, captains, including police chiefs of cities, towns, and provinces,” the solon added.
This can be done under a joint memorandum among those government offices or through presidential executive order, Garbin said.