Police hooked on prohibited drugs?
Based on intelligence reports, a large number of new policemen, even senior officers, in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao—specifically in Lamitan, Basilan, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, Patikul, Sulu—are hooked on prohibited drugs, including shabu. Civilians are flabbergasted to see these policemen frequently visiting drug dens even in broad daylight.
Director General Nicanor Bartolome of the Philippine National Police should look into these reports and order the dismissal of these scalawag policemen and officers. Many policemen are now drug addicts, and more and more of them are being dragged into that vicious trap of addiction. Bartolome should move fast, before it’s too late.
—NURHUDA J. BAIRUDDIN, SALMA HALIMA CADDAYAW, SAIDA H. TAMPILISAN,
Parang, Maguindanao
http://opinion.inquirer.net/14747/cops-hooked-on-drugs
175 cops sacked for drug-related offenses – DILG
Anthony Vargas
MANILA, Philippines – One hundred seventy-five police personnel have been dismissed from the service for drug-related offenses since the assumption of the Aquino administration, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said Sunday.
More than half of the dismissed cops were users, peddlers or protectors of drug syndicates, Robredo said.
“If a policeman is involved or were involved in drugs, there’s nothing to talk about here, they will automatically undergo summary dismissal proceedings,” Robredo said in a statement.
The Interior secretary said the National Police Commission (Napolcom), which he chairs, is currently reviewing misconduct cases against policemen, including those related to drugs. Misconduct cases used to be handled by the Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police.
“We want to erase the public’s perceptions or doubts on why a policeman will investigate misconduct cases against his fellow policeman,” Robredo explained.
But Robredo also offered assurances of assistance for police personnel facing harassment charges.
“If a policeman is facing charges or being charged for doing his job, then we will help them by providing legal aid . . . but, if he (policemen) commits mistakes, then we will punish him,” Robredo said.
He said a P5-million fund has already been set aside for lawyers to handle harassment cases against policemen.
