Appoint civilian inspector general, PNoy urged

By Dharel Placido, ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 10/02/2014 5:02 PM | Updated as of 10/02/2014 7:18 PM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/02/14/appoint-civilian-inspector-general-pnoy-urged

MANILA – Former congressman Roilo Golez on Thursday urged President Benigno Aquino III to appoint a civilian inspector general who will go after the bad eggs in the police force.
Speaking to dzMM, Golez said the current inspector general, who heads the Phillippine National Police's (PNP) Internal Affairs Service, is holding the position on an interim basis and is an active member of the PNP.
Republic Act 8551 or the "Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998", however, requires that the inspector general be a civilian.
The acting inspector general is Police Director Alexander Roldan.
Golez said the appointment of a civilian to the top post in IAS is needed in order to prevent fraternal relations from getting in the way of the investigations on erring policemen.
"Dapat ang presidente i-activate na, mag appoint na ng permanenteng inspector general para ma-insulate ang organization from fraternal relations," he said.
The IAS is mandated to ''pro-actively conduct inspections and audits on PNP personnel and units; investigate complaints and gather evidence in support of an open investigation; conduct summary hearings on PNP members facing administrative charges; submit a periodic report on the assessment, analysis, and evaluation of the character and behavior of PNP personnel and units to the Chief PNP and the Commission; file appropriate criminal cases against PNP members before the court as evidence warrants and assist in the prosecution of the case; and provide assistance to the Office of the Ombudsman in cases involving the personnel of the PNP."
The disciplinary process for erring policemen was placed under the spotlight following the brazen daylight robbery on EDSA last September 1, wherein rogue cops were tagged as perpetrators.
Several crimes involving policemen have since surfaced. Even the chief of the PNP, Director General Alan Purisima, is currently under fire for his allegedly unexplained wealth.
In the interview, Golez chided Roldan for not being aware, when asked in a Senate hearing last September 30, that the IAS does not need the president's clearance anymore in order to investigate Purisima.