A National Police Commission official yesterday said the agency will look into the PNP recruitment system following recent infractions by policemen.
“The National Police Commission is looking into the root cause. There might be a problem in the recruitment (of policemen),” Napolcom vice chairman and executive director Rafael Vicente Calinisan said in a radio interview.
Calinisan’s remarks came after a string of infractions committed by Quezon City Police District policemen, the latest occurring last Monday involving Staff Sergeant Colonel Jordan Marzan.
Marzan, who was under the influence of liquor, illegally entered a residence in Barangay Damayan, looking for one Dimple, who is supposedly involved in illegal drugs.
Marzan then hit a minor during the incident and even threatened to shoot people inside the house if they did not surrender Dimple. Marzan is now facing criminal and administrative charges.
The incident prompted PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil to order the relief of QCPD director Brig. Gen. Melencio Buslig Jr. for command responsibility.
Last Tuesday, the QCPD announced the relief of Maj. Don Don Lapitan, chief of the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, and two of his men for allowing a female detainee to go to a hotel without a court order last Friday.
After Calinisan’s radio interview, the QCPD announced it had relieved and placed on restrictive custody 10 of its policemen for involvement in an irregular anti-gambling operation last April 12.
Last month, the QCPD filed inciting to sedition charges against another QCPD policeman, Patrolman Francis Stevel Fontillas, for posting on social media that he would not follow orders from President Marcos Jr.
Calinisan said the incidents involving the QCPD policemen were “concerning.”
“There may be a need for a more stringent recruitment process in the PNP given this spate of incidents, which we cannot say are isolated,” said Calinisan.
Calinisan also said erring policemen should be punished to discourage others from committing similar illegal activities.
Calinisan said a program should be in place “to check on the moral fitness of possible recruits.”
Calinisan said the Napolcom is considering collaborating with criminology schools to screen PNP recruits. A criminology degree is a key qualification for entry into the police force.
“We need to take a step back and check systematically where the problem is,” said Calinisan, adding that Napolcom is not a “band-aid” or temporary solution to the problem.
