PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil yesterday said the police force will hire law firms and lawyers to help defend policemen facing work-related charges.
During the flag-raising rites at Camp Crame, Marbil assured PNP personnel they would be defended from such charges.
“Our lawyers are good but sometimes they are not enough to face attorney de campanilla,” said Marbil, who assumed command as PNP chief last month.
Marbil said they will be using funds to be donated by the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Inc. headed by PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Peralta in outsourcing lawyers.
“PSMBFAI is donating something for us for legal assistance,” Marbil said of the non-profit mutual benefit fund association organized to insurance protection, and financial and material aid to its members.
Marbil said Peralta suggested that the PNP prioritize giving legal assistance to policemen, instead of cars and computers.
“Why not solve the primary problem of policemen,” said Marbil, referring to work-related charges against policemen who he said are forced to use their own money to defend themselves from such cases.
“The DCA (deputy chief for administration) said it’s really time to outsource. We should have retainers, firms that help our policemen and that is the way that we will go,” said Marbil.
“We are not going to abandon you in the fight (against these charges),” Marbil told policemen. “Whatever happens, we are not going to leave you. What is what we want to do.”
Marbil said the PNP is also considering providing health cards to all policemen.
“That is what we are trying to do. We are trying to do anything for our policemen,” said Marbil, adding his only request to policemen is to “give the best public service.”
“That is going to be our direction and it will be our direction for a couple of years. Why? Because if we are not going to take care of you (policemen), you may not be able to take care of the people,” he said.
“I said that I want people to be safe but if you (policemen) are not safe, that may not happen,” he said.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said the police force only has 240 lawyers at the PNP Legal Service, a low number considering the PNP currently has 230,000 personnel.
“Our Chief PNP wants to hire lawyers outside the PNP because the number of our lawyers is not enough,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo said a technical working group has been created “to operationalize the intention of our Chief PNP, which is to help our policemen who are charged because of charges relating to the performance of their duties.”
Marbil also dismissed reports that there would be a reduction in the Combat Incentive Pay, Combat Duty Pay, and rice subsidy of policemen.
He described these reports as “fake news.”
“Some fools come up with stories to destroy the organization. That is not true, that is not what we want to happen. That is not really true. Our priority is, of course, our mission to serve our clients (people). Second is always the welfare of our personnel,” said Marbil.
