The Senate should look into whether the Philippine National Police (PNP) has a responsive and adequate mental health program to ensure the psychological well-being of the entire police force.
“I think isa yun sa puwede nating ma-bring up sa (Senate) hearing at magandang malaman muna kung meron ba to begin with na mental health program para sa ating mga kapulisan? At gaano kadalas ba itong psychological test na ginagawa sa kanila? (I think that is one of the issues that can be raised during the hearing and it’s good to know if our PNP has a mental health program to begin with. And how often do they conduct psychological tests?),” Senator Nancy Binay said in a radio interview.
Binay made the call following the killing of an unarmed mother and son by Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca in Paniqui, Tarlac on Sunday, Dec. 20 which was captured on video and became viral on social media.
Nuezca reportedly shot dead his neighbor Sonya Gregorio, 52 and her son Frank, 25, after a heated argument over a long-standing feud about right of way.
Lawmakers and several human rights groups have condemned the killing and called for an end to police brutality in the Philippines.
President Duterte condemned the killing but said the incident was only an isolated case.
Binay, who was among the senators who signed a resolution seeking an Senate inquiry into the senseless killings in the country involving civilians, journalists, lawyers and doctors, said questions regarding the neurological and psychological fitness of policemen should also be investigated.
“Kasi, alam n’yo ang mga private citizen na naga-apply ng permit to carry ng baril, dadaan yan sa butas ng karayom doon sa psychological test, eh (Because as you know, private citizens who apply for a permit to carry firearms are required to go through a very strict psychological test before they can obtain one),” the senator explained.
“Ganoon din ba kahigpit pagdating sa (mga pulis)? Siguro dapat maging mas mahigpit pa pagdating sa kapulisan iyong standard pagdating doon sa kanilang psychological capability and mayroon ba silang responsibility (Are they also strict when it comes to policemen? I seriously think they should employ stringent standards when it comes to ensuring cops’ psychological capability and responsibility),” she stressed.
Binay said she hopes that the Senate would be able to tackle Senate Resolution No. 600 as soon as it resumes its plenary sessions next year.
The measure primarily aims to break the culture of impunity prevailing in the country, especially among law enforcement agencies and identify the gaps in the law enforcement.
“So siguro magandang tingnan ano bang quality noong neuro-test na ginagawa natin sa ating kapulisan. Baka that is something na pwede nating tingnan kapag nag-hearing na kami sa Senado (So maybe it would be good to know the quality of neuro-tests that is administered to our police force. maybe that is something we can check out once we start hearing it in the Senate),” she said.