“This time we’ll breathe discipline 24/7 as we will more firmly implement reforms in all levels in the PNP,” Albayalde said in his first flag-raising ceremony speech at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“Basta’t may disiplina kayo magkakaroon kayo ng tunay (na) respeto sa sarili at magiging maayos ang inyong serbisyo,” he added.
(As long as you have discipline, you will have true respect for yourselves and your service to the public will get better.)
Albayalde admitted that there are “few misguided souls” in the police ranks “who continue to live on the dark side and refuse to toe the line.”
“There are only a handful of them in our ranks but they can cause more trouble to the organization if we do not take action and allow these people to insist in their own wicked ways,” he said.
“Because discipline shall be the hallmark of my administration, we will all address this concern with utmost urgency and forcefully if necessary,” he added.
New PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde aims on cleaning up the PNP by implementing reforms at every level and breathing discipline 24/7.
We have all heard this before. Promises to clean up or reform the PNP. Promises to get rid of corrupt cops. Promises, promises, promises. All of them broken. Let's take a look at years past and see how some of these promises of reform have played out for former PNP Chiefs.
Corruption in the PNP and in the organisations preceding its creation in 1991 goes way back to the 19th century. The earliest reference I can find online about going after rogue cops or cleaning up the PNP is from President Arroyo's July 22, 2002 SONA.
I have told the PNP that they must start with the cleansing of their own ranks. You remember the front page photograph of that shootout last Saturday? In the front seat next to the driver was a PNP Academy Graduate but AWOL from the police force. He was the planner and the negotiator of that gang. The rascals among the police disgrace the uniform and unfortunately paint in the same broad brush the majority who do their duty well.
http://sona.inquirer.net/47/state-of-the-nation-address-2002-gloria-macapagal-arroyo/
Two weeks after this speech the PNP seemed to be making good on Arroyo's mandate to cleanse their own ranks. When 3 PNP officers and two of their cohorts were arrested for kidnapping.
Policemen who violate the law are not immune from arrest and prosecution.
President Arroyo issued this stern warning yesterday as Philippine National Police (PNP) officials presented to her at Malacañang three policemen and two civilian cohorts arrested on Friday on charges of kidnapping-for-ransom, robbery and car theft. .
"Because criminals have no place in the police service, the police must be more severe with the men and women in its ranks," the President said. "The uniform is not a protective shield against justice and the law."
She stressed that the PNP, in fighting criminality and corruption, has to purge its own ranks "because there are rascals in the police who give the whole police a bad name."
PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. presented the five suspects to Mrs. Arroyo at Malacañang hours after they were captured in a dragnet set by the newly created Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER).
The suspects were identified as Superintendent Virgilio Jose, chief of the General Service Office of the PNP Maritime Group; SPO1 Gonzalo Gultiano and PO3 Sergio Bendoy, also of the PNP-MG, and Gaudencio Espibon and Marlu Amora, both civilian agents of Jose’s unit.
She reiterated her mandate on September 9, 2002.
Mrs. Arroyo said she told Ebdane to immediately identify policemen and soldiers, whom she described as "rascals," and gather enough evidence to pin them down in court.
"We must know who these people are, so we can complete the evidence and charge them in court and they can be removed from the service," she said.
"I ordered General Ebdane to pinpoint these rascals in uniform, whether currently in uniform, formerly in uniform, or (absent without leave)."
In response, Ebdane said he has ordered the police draw up a "specific order of battle" for what he described as "scalawags in uniform."
Just how many "scallywags
in uniform" were there
at this time in 2002? Exactly 356!
In revealing that 356 policemen are "rascals in uniform," Ebdane said at least 50 are officers and 132 are "incorrigibles."
He said these wayward PNP personnel are being watched.
Zubiri said judging from the way the PNP chief described rogue policemen, administrative or criminal charges, or both, must have been filed against them.
If that were so, then there should be no hindrance in disclosing their names, he said.
"There should be fairness here. If private citizens suspected of criminal activities can be identified, the more we can name public officers whom we believe are into something illegal. More so if they are policemen who are supposed to enforce the law," he said.
He added that the public would be particularly interested to know if there are generals (chief superintendent) or colonels among the wayward PNP officers.
"What we have here is a rogue force that is almost a battalion size," he noted.
In 2003 PNP Chief Ebdane was accused
of corruption.
Nothing ever came of these allegations and ultimately
he retired and made his entrance into politics. In 2015 he was indicted
for graft during his time
as Governor
of Zambales
.
His successor, Edgardo Aglipay, was only in office for a few months but he had a few ideas about reform.
"If we take care of our country… take care of our people and take care of our organization, our country and our people will take care of us," he says, looking more scholarly than ever. "And to achieve this, discipline and austerity will have to be the hallmarks of my administration."
He has enjoined all police officers to show respect and basic courtesy to every citizen, especially the common Filipino, and dutifully vowed to increase police visibility in many areas because it is an "effective deterrent to crime". He has also instructed police stations nationwide to make an inventory of unsolved cases over the past three years.
"I have to see to it na ang mga kapulisan natin ay respectful kasi I found out sa isang report na marami sa ating mga mamamayan ay natatakot sa mga pulis dahil abusado raw at baka kung ano ang gawin sa kanila," Aglipay reveals.
He puts his finger on what he perceives as the specifics of the problem. "First, people believe that when they come to the (police) station for help, they end up with a bigger problem. Second, people don’t see policemen in the streets or in busy commercial areas. Third, if they do file a case, after a few days it is forgotten and remains unresolved. And fourth, people see the police themselves violating the law."
The next PNP Chief was Arturo Lomibao who served from March 14, 2005 - August 29, 2006. He was expected to continue the anti-corruption reforms of his priors.
Aglipay said he is expecting Lomibao to continue the PNP transformation and anti-corruption plan.
The transformation plan identifies the services the PNP needs to extend more to the Filipino people while the anti-corruption plan traces the root of corruption in the police force and outlines the programs to address it.
Aglipay pointed out that on Lomibao’s initiative, the PNP secured an agreement with Coalition against Corruption, a civil society group that will study the PNP’s budget allocations and records along with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Audit (COA).
"The PNP will be in the safe hands of Lomibao," Aglipay said.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2005/03/14/270269/lomibao-new-pnp-chief
The anti-corruption plan seemed to be working.
Reyes vowed to initiate more programs to professionalize the PNP and rid its ranks of scalawags and misfits this year.
"There are only a few bad eggs in the PNP and most policemen are dedicated to their duties to protect the public, keep the peace, and enforce the law," Reyes pointed out.
He assured though the members of the national police force that they will not be affected by the campaign as long as they perform their duties and mandate.
Reyes hopes that the sustained DILG and Napolcom campaign to cleanse the ranks of the PNP through the trilateral partnership with local chief executives and the community, would soon transform the police force into one that "is respected by the people but is no pushover."
"We want a police force that is feared by the criminals. That is our overall objective," Reyes said.
On the other hand, PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao has approved promotions of a number of policemen who had showed exemplary courage in the performance of their duties.
Lomibao hoped that the promotion of a few good men would further inspire other policemen to do good for the community, and thus help in regaining the respect of the community.
The PNP has spent P5,000 a month for retraining each of the misfit policemen who were sent to the Subic retraining camp.
But we know ultimately these reforms did not in fact reform the PNP. Scallywags and rogue cops remained in the ranks.
Lomibao's successor was Oscar C. Calderon who served from August 29, 2006 - October 1, 2007.
While several generals were implicated in alleged fraud during the May 10, 2004 presidential elections, Calderon managed to stay away from politics and his name has not been mentioned in the poll controversy.
He has also not been implicated in jueteng, human rights violations or summary executions, maintaining a solid reputation for over three decades.
"I do not claim that I am totally 100 percent clean, but I can 100 percent say that I know what is right and what is wrong. I know what is scandalous," he says.
Thus, people may be more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt when he pledges to "rid the PNP of scalawags," a promise made all too often in the past. "I want to be remembered as the PNP chief who got rid of the scalawags in the organization and brought the police closer to the people."
That may be an even taller order than solving high profile killings in ten weeks.
The PNP chief vows to give priority to the police housing program because 74,000 of the 118,000 members of the PNP do not have decent housing. He sympathizes with police personnel who can hardly make both ends meet, but he insists that policemen should not use their meager income as an excuse for engaging in illegal activities.
"Naranasan ko rin yung sweldo na P360 a month, so about P150 every 15 days. But I tried to live within my means, the same with my wife and children," he says.
Aside from taking out the bad eggs from the organization, Calderon also vows to address street crime, from cell phone snatching to pickpockets and hold-ups. "I have pledged to reduce street crimes and to make sure students, employees of call centers can go home peacefully without being molested by pickpockets and hold-uppers."
To support his anti-street crime campaign, Calderon started fielding police detectives who are armed and trained to shoot. These detectives ride in buses and other public utility vehicles in areas with rampant hold-up and snatching activities.
He says the community’s support for the police is the best weapon against all forms of criminality, particularly in the campaign against terrorism and insurgency.
"The PNP is given a more active role in internal security operations. We will have specific duties. We have worked together before and our reunion (with AFP) is not new to us," he explains. "We will have to re-focus our thrust–our thrust in intelligence, investigation and operation and community relations towards internal security operations."
Calderon shares that there will also be "Honesty Teams", composed of trained investigators, to go after "kotong cops"–policemen engaged in extortion and other criminal activities. He exhorts his fellow policemen to stay away from illegal activities, telling them that "a good name is the best thing you can give to your children."
The statement about Calderon not being "implicated in jueteng, human rights violations or summary executions" reveals the depth of the problems within the PNP. In the late 90s and early 2000's PNP officers were implicated in kidnappings and murders. Far from being mere scallawags or bad eggs these men were plain evil.
Likewise Calderon's admission that he is not 100% clean but knows the difference between right and wrong is telling. It tells us that even the PNP Chief cannot be counted on to be an angel. It also tells us that if PNP Chief Calderon had no problem doing what is wrong then neither would other Chiefs.
The next PNP Chief was Avelino I. Razon Jr. who served from October 1, 2007 – September 27, 2008. He too was determined to rid the PNP of scallawags.
Strong words and producing some results even.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has dismissed 52 police officers from the service as part of a campaign to purge the police force of misfits and scalawags.
PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. approved the dismissal of the 52 rogue policemen, who were charged with offenses ranging from grave misconduct, serious irregularities, and involvement in criminal activities.
The PNP has also imposed sanctions on 313 personnel for various administrative offenses. They were either demoted, suspended, had their salary forfeited, reprimanded, forced to resign or restricted to quarters.
From January to April this year, the PNP also dropped 55 employees from its roster, mostly for being absent without official leave.
Data from the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) showed that 365 employees meted disciplinary punishment were among 881 employees who were investigated and charged in 589 cases handled by the different summary hearing boards over the past four months.
52 bad eggs tossed out. 313 bad eggs sanctioned. As it turns out Chief Razon was a bad egg all along!
The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday, July 11, filed criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan against retired Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon Jr and 31 others over the anomalous repair and maitenance of several light armored vehicles (LAVs) in 2007.
Jesus A. Versos was the next PNP Chief. He served from September 27, 2008 – September 14, 2010.
He said the PNP’s “2016 transformation roadmap,” which contains 15 strategic initiatives for reforming the police organization, not only coincides with the term of the new president, but also reflects the incoming administration’s desire to institutionalize reform in the country.
Versoza said the reform program is projected to be completed by 2016 and is expected to be sustained until 2030.
“We have laid down the foundations for the continuing implementation of our transformation program but more things need to be done and we need to them better,” Versoza said.
Completed by 2016? It is now 2018 and things have not changed a bit. Jesus also turned out to be one of those "few bad eggs."
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the filing of graft charges against retired Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa and seven other ranking police officers in the Sandiganbayan in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of 75 defective rubber boats worth P131.5 million in 2008.
Next as Chief of the PNP was Raul Bacalao who served from September 14, 2010 – September 9, 2011.
But PNP chief, Director-General Raul Bacalzo, said reforms are underway to improve the image of the police force.
Very drastic. Very ineffective. Corruption remained. It did not go away.
Nicanor Bartolome replaced Bacalzao and served as PNP Chief from September 9, 2011 – December 17, 2012.
His leadership did not lead to an end of corruption within the PNP ranks because when his successor Alan Purisima, who served from December 17, 2012 – February 5, 2015, took over he had this to say:
Funny because Purisima was later dismissed and charged with graft!
Anomalous deals, perjury, graft, this PNP Chief really reflected his men and the organisation. Corrupt to the core. Just another of the very few bad eggs who happened to rise through the ranks and become PNP Chief.
Leonardo Espina took over in the interim as Officer in Charge while a new Chief was sought. Corruption continued of course. Though Espina did toss in his two cents about how to end corruption.
Eventually Ricardo C. Marquez was chosen as PNP Chief and served from July 16, 2015 – June 30, 2016.
Dirty cops and dirty toilets? Click here to see my review of my local PNP office's toilet! Pretty gross. The cops remained corrupt of course. Do I really need to tell you that??
After Marquez came Bato who served from July 1, 2016 – April 19, 2018. Bato was appointed by Duterte and tasked with cleaning up the PNP.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reiterated that efforts to cleanse the organization of corrupt members were being intensified after President Rodrigo Duterte said that at least 30 percent of the 160,000-strong police force were involved in corrupt activities.
30 percent of 160,000 is 48,000! That is more than just "a few bad eggs!!" That is nearly 1/3 of the entire PNP! That is 134 times the amount of corrupt cops than the 356 Chief Ebdane mentioned in 2002. Do I need to provide documentation that Bato did not stop corruption within the PNP? Need I mention the murder of Jee-Ick Joo?? How about all the cops dismissed or demoted during Bato's tenure? How about the entire Caloocan PNP force being relived?
Reading through this florilegium of past attempts at PNP reform did you notice the repeating motifs? Bad cops are referred to as "rascals" who tarnish the image of the PNP. They are only "a few bad eggs." Bad cops are merely rogues and scallawags while most cops are hardworking good guys. Discipline will straighten everything out. The PNP must be "professionalised." What does this mean? Are they admitting they are not a professional organisation?
Community cohesion is a also a motif in these reform efforts. The people must be able to trust the police. Community support for the PNP is the best crime preventative and deterrent. Even cleanliness shows up as a motif. Bato's predecessor Marquez vowed to clean up the dirty toilets at Camp Crame. He must have not succeeded.
Finally there is one more motif. It is the most important motif which unifies all the smaller leitmotifs into one grand theme and is itself the main theme of PNP reform. It is....IMAGE! All of these reforms are concerned with cleaning up the image of the PNP. What is so wrong with that? Because cleaning up the surface, the image, leaves you with a dirty rotten core. Listen to Jesus:
Matthew 23:27: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Matthew 23:28: Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Image is the main theme which unites all the other leitmotifs of community support, only a few bad eggs, and discipline being essential to reform. The memorandum signed by PNP Chief Purisima on September 18, 2014 is a perfect example of how cleaning up the image of the PNP is the real theme and true goal in PNP reform. Here are a few excerpts.
https://dpcr.pnp.gov.ph/portal/images/downloads/PPD/CMC%20No.%202014-040%20re%20Pulis%20Natin.pdf
There is nothing in any of thee boxes about reform. Look at the box labelled "Desired State." Not a word about having truly good and honest cops who do their job correctly. Even in the box labels "Present State" there is nothing about corrupt cops. It's all about public perception. The box labelled "Gaps" mentions a "few bad eggs" and a "few undisciplined" cops as being stumbling blocks to polishing their image but that underestimates the prevalence of these so-called "few bad eggs" which Duterte claims makes up 1/3 of the organisation.
"Corrective measures in lieu of punitive sanctions will be given preference." There's the problem! The PNP admits they do not want to punish bad cops. They want to give a slap on the wrist, send them off to learn "Basic Carpentry, Electrical connections, constructions, Computer Operation and other short term vocational courses" so they can be sent off to areas affected by calamities which don't even happen regularly. That is called reshuffling. It is the same thing the Roman Catholic Church has done with abusive priests for years. Without punishing bad cops, which means actual discipline, no one will care to stop being bad. Why should they?
"Bringing back the glory of the police service of yesteryears!" Are they serious?? Pray tell what years were those and what made them glorious?
"Policemen/women in some cases are made as a "laughing stock" in various medium (movies, TV sitcoms, etc.)" "Police heroism and bravery should also be featured in TV programs and movies."
Does this mean the popular teleseryes "Probinsyano" is actually propaganda to help improve the image of the PNP according the guidelines in this memo? Why yes it does!
As such, the TV adaptation initiated by then ABS-CBN president and CEO Charo Santos-Concio aimed to boost the morale of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, in order to “help them regain the love and respect of the people.”
Within weeks, the teleserye amassed a nationwide following and critical acclaim not only for elevating the stature of uniformed men and women, but most especially for promoting traditional Filipino values. And Martin, known to be down-to-earth, kind-hearted and a gentleman in real life, thrived in the role of Cardo—a staunchly principled Special Action Forces Trooper who shows respect for elders, value for family, chivalry, and concern for the community and the oppressed.
http://www.manilatimes.net/coco-martin-prove-good-guys-cool/367761/
Maganda ang ginagawa niyo sa 'Ang Probinsyano.' Bumabalik ang kumpiyansa ng mga tao sa mga pulis," Bato said.
(What Ang Probinsyano is doing is wonderful. The public is starting to trust the police again.)
In the video aired on Tonight with Boy Abunda, Coco said: "Ang hangarin po namin sa [FPJ's] Ang Probinsyano ay magbalik yung pagmamahal, tiwala at respeto ng ating mamayan sa ating kapulisan, sa abot po namin na makapagbigay ng impormasyon laban sa kriminalidad."
(Our main purpose in FPJ's Ang Probinsyano is to bring back the love, trust and respect of the public toward the police force to the best we can, spreading information about crime in the country.)
What about Brillante Mendoza's series "Amo"? Is this too propaganda? Menodaza says no.
“This is not propaganda because propaganda is when you are favoring a certain view. When you show two sides of the coin, that’s not propaganda,” Mr. Mendoza said after it was pointed out during the press conference that he also directed the TV coverage of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address.
http://bworldonline.com/brillante-mendoza-tackles-war-drugs-amo/
But he also admitted that the PNP gave input on the show and that the story is based on real events.
"This is something based on research, and the police had their input too. Our story was based on real events."
http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/04/05/18/netflix-series-shows-necessary-philippine-drug-war-director
What the extent of this input is Mendoza does not say but certainly it is within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the MTRCB and the PNP on March 27, 2017 in which the PNP declares they will help the MTRCB develop TV series which show the "real side of the police."
Under the agreement, the two organizations will also see to it that there will be a proper depiction of police efforts, such as but not limited to wearing of police uniforms, portraying of police character and reflecting the bad side of a police officer as well as any other relevant aspects of information to support affairs and community/public affairs.
The PCRG will also assist the MTRCB in providing adequate resource persons and other advocacy seminars and materials on matters pertaining to the proper and honest depiction and portrayal of the PNP, its customs, traditions, officers and personnel.
Citing the spirit of patriotism, the PNP leadership has consistently asked the country’s movie and television industry to fully coordinate with them in order to come up with movies and TV series that will properly portray and depict policemen, starting from the way they wear their uniforms up to the way they investigate and solve or thwart crimes with the end in view of emphasizing respect due the sacred office and uniform of a PNP officer.
PNP officials even sought the help of the MTRCB in helping them encourage movie and TV producers and directors to make motion pictures and TV series that will show the real side of the police and help further strengthen police-community relations.
http://www.journal.com.ph/news/nation/pnp-mtrcb-join-hands-to-properly-portray-cops-in-movies-television
Not only is any reference to this event in the mainstream media sorely lacking as if it never happened but apparently this Memorandum of Understanding is not available to read anywhere online. Not on the MTRCB's website or the PNP's website.
But a memorandum was signed. Mocha Uson was even there as a signatory.
Note that Mendoza's series was in development before this memorandum was signed but after Purisima's memorandum. What I am trying to get at here is that the PNP, according to Mendoza, gave input on "Amo" and this is in line with the kind of reforms they wish to implement, i.e. portraying PNP officers heroically and realistically on TV.
There will NEVER be any true reform in the PNP because the PNP does not want reform. To have true reform they would have to actually prune their dead branches and mete out punitive sanctions against corrupt cops not just send them off for retraining and corrective measures. True reform would mean looking deeply inward and admitting the organisation itself is corrupt and not just "a few bad eggs." If it were a few bad eggs only then once they were gotten rid of the corruption would end but no matter how many hundreds of cops are let go corruption remains. Why?
That is a question I cannot answer. I cannot tell you what makes the PNP corrupt. All I can tell you is that it is corrupt. Corrupt to the core.
The PNP is not reformable. At least not the way the PNP is going about it. Changing the public's perception of the PNP won't reform the organisation. It will only lull the public into thinking the PNP is a cute and safe puppy when they are still a bunch of ugly, poisonous vipers. The PNP is mistaken when they think that LOOKING good is the same as BEING good. It is not. Changing the image means putting on a new coat of paint. A coat which will invariably dry out, crumble, and reveal the rotten mess of dead men's bones and uncleanness which lies beneath.
