(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police to start an intense “internal cleansing” of its ranks, and to stop indiscriminate raids based on search warrants that are being done by cops at this time as he reorganizes the national police.
In a late night press conference on Sunday (January 29) until the wee hours of Monday (January 30), the President also rejected the offer of PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa to resign, saying this would not contribute to anything.
“What good will it do to the police to remove Bato? If there are still scalawags in the police, they will continue with or without Bato,” he said.
Duterte also ordered the abolition of all anti-illegal drug units of the PNP, saying that the anti-illegal drug operations would be done by the PDEA or the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
“Galit ako, kasi pati ako napahiya,” the President said as he stressed that he would not protect criminal cops.
He also believed that Supt. Rafael Dumlao of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (PNP-AIDG) was involved in the abduction and killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo.
Dumlao had been tagged by SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel as the brains behind the Korean’s kidnap-slay.
Shortly after the President’s press conference, PNP chief Dela Rosa directed that all “tokhang” activities, or the PNP’s war against drugs, will stop in accordance with the President’s directive.
“We have to focus our efforts towards internal cleansing. And by the time na ma-cleanse natin ang PNP, the President will determine that and he will instruct us to go back on the war on drugs. But right now, no more drug operations,” said Dela Rosa in a speech in Camp Crame on Monday.
“I don’t know how long will it take to cleanse the PNP, but with each and every one of us cooperating, I am sure, kahit sabihin mo sigurong one month, kaya naming gawin ‘yan,” he said.
President Duterte has also asked the PNP to provide him a list of policemen who had been previously charged with various crimes, including murder and kidnapping.
The President asked Dela Rosa to review the list of all the policemen who had been reinstated.
He particularly asked for a list of poliocemen who have previous murder charges.
“Lahat ng may kaso na pulis, na mga murder previously. Bigyan mo ako isang linya, ako na ang bahala sa kanila,” he said.
