Discipline first: PNP urged to 'go back to basics'

The Philippine National Police must "go back to basics" and instill discipline in their ranks to weed out corrupt cops, a former police officer turned lawmaker said Wednesday.

Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop said police officers are no longer observing basic protocol, which is the foundation for instilling discipline.

"Dati, bago i-poste yung mga pulis, nagfo-formation sila para makita kung tama yung uniporme ng mga pulis, basic. You do not see this anymore if you go around. Bihira na yung pulis na naglalakad. Naka-standby na lang sila sa mobile car," Acop said.

(Before, police are made to line up in formation prior to their deployment so that the leader can check if they are in their proper uniforms. That's basic. You do not see this anymore if you go around. You don't often see police on foot patrol. They are usually on standby inside their mobile cars.)

The criticism came a day after President Rodrigo Duterte reprimanded hundreds of cops allegedly involved in illegal activities.

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He earlier said many policemen are corrupt to the core, with nearly 40 percent of the police force engaged in illegal activities.

Acop, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, said the PNP leadership under Director General Ronald Dela Rosa is focusing too much on "the mission given by the president."

"Masyado siyang nagconcentrate sa operational aspect ng kanyang trabaho, forgetting that he has to whip down the line, na dapat trabahuhin nila pagdidisiplina ng kanilang mga tao and see to it that erring personnel must be punished," he said.

(He concentrated too much on the operational aspect of his job, forgetting that he has to whip down the line, discipline his men, and see to it that erring personnel will be punished.)

The congressman said lawmakers are also planning to review loopholes in the PNP's recruitment system to ensure that all applicants are fit for the responsibility of being a member of the national police force.