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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Corrupt cops must be dismissed from service, not suspended — Duterte

Corrupt cops must be dismissed from service, not suspended — Duterte

Published Mar 30, 2021 10:15 am

President Duterte has ordered the immediate dismissal of corrupt police officers, saying he could hire competent criminology graduates to replace them.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte skims through a document as he presides over a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on March 29, 2021. (KING RODRIGUEZ / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

In a pre-recorded address to the nation on Monday, March 29, the tough-talking President said suspension of those guilty of graft and corruption was not enough because “they will continue to do it again and again.”

“You know, in graft and corruption, whether it is one peso or 1,000, it’s still the same. Pagka graft and corruption, diretso ‘yan dismissal (If it is graft and corruption, that should be an automatic dismissal),” he said.

Duterte also warned government officials that if they were caught involved in graft and corruption, they will be automatically dismissed.

“Graft and corruption is dismissal. Iyong mapulis, ma-fireman, ma-mayor’s office o mayor o governor (Whether a policeman, fireman, someone from mayor’s office or mayor or governor) corruption is a serious offense,” he said.

“Do not give me that s*** of a suspension-suspension. It’s a very serious offense and parang (it’s like), you know, they’re microbes in the organization and they will continue to do it again and again. They should be dismissed,” Duterte added.

Under Republic Act 3019, he cited graft and corruption have severe penalties.

The Chief Executive read a list of suspended police officers charged guilty of graft and corruption. These are Police Captain Danilo Yema Jr., Police Master Sergeant Federico Javier, Police Corporal Arvin Abella, and patrolmen Roberto Descallar and Ronnel Abarcar.

Most were only suspended for 60 days, but Duterte asked their respective offices to send their papers to the Office of the Executive Secretary for proper review.

The President said there were many Criminology graduates, who he can tap every year.

“I do not need you in government. Maraming graduates sa Criminology, every year sobra-sobra, tapos magtiis ako sa inyo? Bakit ako magtiis sa isang g*** eh marami naman diyan gustong pumasok? (There are many graduates of Criminology, every year there’s a surplus, why will I have to bear with you? Why should I bear with an (expletive) if there are many who want to enter service?),” he added.

Despite the sharp warning against corrupt government officials, Duterte has come to the defense of several high-ranking government officials accused of corruption in the past.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and former House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano, among others, have all faced corruption allegations previously but the Chief Executive came to their defense.

He also did not heed the call for Duque’s resignation when he was embroiled in the missing P15-billion funds in the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

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