A TOTAL of 54 police officers have been sacked in a year under the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao as the result of the internal cleansing effort of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to eliminate erring cops out of their ranks.
PRO-Davao spokesperson Police Senior Inspector Catherine dela Rey said that from July 2016 to July 13 this year, several police officers have been dismissed for irregularities and engagement in unlawful activities while in the service.
Of the 54, there is one high ranking officer and 53 lower ranking officers. These officers involved in grave misconducts (22), serious neglect of duty (22), and one for oppression.
The cops were dismissed for obstruction of justice, violation of the Republic Act 9165 known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act, qualified theft, Commission on Election gun ban, estafa, Republic Act 9262 or The Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004, parricide, conduct unbecoming, Anti-fencing Law, robbery, and murder.
Recently, former Police Senior Inspector Alex Rendon, who was assigned in Davao del Norte, was fired from the service for his involvement in illegal drugs and providing protection to drug personalities.
PRO-Davao Director Manuel Gaerlan said on Wednesday, July 12, that they do not tolerate illegal activities and do not regret terminating misfit cops who are tainting the whole PNP organization.
He also said that the wrongdoings of few cops do not define the whole police in the country.
Earlier, PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa said that he had signed the dismissal of around 260 officers for the whole year since he had been PNP chief to instill reform and weed out scalawags who are abusing their power.