On rogue cops, Senator Lacson says PNP needs 'leadership by example'

Philippine Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson believes that leadership by example remains key to instilling discipline in the Philippine National Police (PNP) amid recent reports of crimes involving police personnel.

Lacson, a former PNP chief, said this after reports of a rape in Cebu, a policeman stabbing a fellow officer in Camp Crame, and a Negros Oriental policeman who killed three fellow officers and a female civilian in a restaurant-bar.

"When I was Chief PNP, I had only one baseline - leadership by example. If the Chief PNP does not extort or engage in crime, he has the moral authority to tell his men to follow his example," he said in English and Filipino at the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

He added that discipline gives the PNP chief the moral authority to direct personnel to refrain from extortion and other criminal activities.

During his term as PNP Chief from 1999 to 2001, Lacson led by example and cleansed the PNP of rogues, thus earning the PNP high trust and approval ratings from the public.

Lacson said he trusts acting PNP chief P/Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. will work with Interior Secretary Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Remulla in disciplining what he called the ICU - Inept, Corrupt and Undisciplined - police officers.

"Nartatez knows my style as Chief PNP. I hope he with the help of the DILG secretary will discipline the police," he said.

In the meantime, Lacson said he intends to file legislation giving the PNP more teeth against rogue members by making its Internal Affairs Service (IAS) independent.

"The IAS must be separate from the PNP and have more teeth and more power. For now, it seems to be an adjunct of the PNP and is not truly independent," he said.

-Paraluman News