INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday told the PNP to intensify its campaign to weed out scalawags in the police force and strengthen the character of policemen so they will not give in to temptations.
Año issued the challenge to the PNP leadership in Camp Crame during the 119th Police Service Anniversary or commemoration of the establishment of the now-defunct Philippine Constabulary.
“Let us weed out misfits who continue to tarnish the reputation of our beloved institution,” said Año.
Last March, Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Biay, director of the PNP directorate for personnel and records management, said 3,914 policemen have been dismissed from the service for various offenses during the Duterte administration.
“Our efforts are already gaining momentum and we will not stop until every scalawag is removed from our ranks, hence we must be unyielding in our internal cleansing drive,” Año said.
Año added the PNP should also “build the moral foundations” of policemen so that they will resist “various temptations and trials” they may face in the future.
“By employing measures that beef up our character and caliber, we will be able to build a reputable and formidable police force trusted and well respected by the Fiipino people,” said Año.
Año extended his “sincerest congratulations” to the PNP for its accomplishments, particularly in its anti-crime campaign and the ongoing efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic that has already infected over 2,000 policemen.
In a video-recorded message, President Duterte congratulated the PNP, especially the awardees “for your crucial role in making the PNP a highly dynamic, professional and responsive organization.
“Be assured of our nation’s gratitude for your significant contributions to our campaign against illegal drugs, criminality and terrorism,” Duterte said.
Duterte also extended his appreciation of the PNP’s “selfless service as frontliners in our fight against COVID-19 pandemic. I ask you to ensure that the PNP will remain pandemic-resilient by adopting protective protocols in the new normal.
“May you build on the gains of your achievements and continue to serve with honor and justice,” the President said.
PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa cited some of the many accomplishments the PNP achieved, specifically since last October when he became the PNP’s top man.
He said 41,972 anti-drug operations were conducted during the period, leading to the arrest of 62,342 suspected users and peddlers, surrender of 3,293 others and seizure of 2,261 kilos of shabu worth P15.3 billion.
“Included therein is the PNP DEGs (Drug Enforcement Group’s) biggest buy-bust operations in Marilao, Bulacan worth P5.6 billion,” said Gamboa, referring to an operation in June where 782 kilos of suspected shabu were seized and a Chinese drug trafficker identified as Yuwen Cai and his two Filipino cohorts were nabbed.
“Such rare feat is considerably the largest in terms of quantity and value of shabu confiscated in a single operations since the anti- illegal drugs campaign was launched in 2016. This result manifests the aggressive anti-illegal drugs posture of the PNP during this period,” said Gamboa.
A number of policemen and units were cited during the anniversary, including Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, the PNP deputy chief for administration and commander of the Administrative Support for COVID 19 Task Force.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, the PNP deputy chief for operations and commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, which is leading the implementation of quarantine protocols throughout the country, was also given a special award.
