The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday, Dec. 30, that it has meted penalties to 2,635 erring policemen in 2022 as its leadership vowed to continue its internal cleansing program "with greater focus" to purge the organization of undesirable personnel and sustain the notable decrease in the number of crime incidents nationwide.
PNP Chief, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the penalties handed out to the rogue cops ranged from withholding of their privileges to dismissal from service due to administrative cases linked to violation of PNP rules and regulations, or involvement in criminal activities.
Records from the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) showed that 584 cops were dismissed from the service this year, 164 were demoted in rank, and 1,225 were meted suspension terms. Another 456 were reprimanded, 117 were meted salary forfeiture penalties, 26 were restricted to quarters, and 63 were denied privileges.
The DPRM records added that those dismissed from the service were found administratively liable in 321 cases of absence without official leave (AWOL), 42 for drug use, 15 for failure to attend court duty, 20 for violence against women, and others for involvement in criminal cases for murder, homicide, carnapping, illegal drugs, robbery extortion, and rape.
"This hardline stance of the PNP against breach of discipline and misconduct within the ranks is the most prominent manifestation of our genuine responsiveness and commitment to reform the organization and enable it to absorb further development and modernization," Azurin said.
Crimes
Relatedly, the PNP Chief said there was a significant decrease in both index and non-index crime incidents, eight focus crime categories, and eight special complex crimes that were recorded in 2022 compared to 2021.
"I would like to point out the correlation of organizational reform and individual performance as benchmark factors to the accomplishment of unit mission. Through significant gains in the PNP internal reform program, PNP units fared well in performing our law enforcement and public safety mandate," Azurin said.
Among the eight focus crimes, Azurin said incidents of carnapping of motor vehicle dropped sharply by 20.51 percent in 2022 while similar double-digit decrease in incidents of murder and homicide were recorded at 11.89 percent and 9.98 percent, respectively.
Meanwhile, data on other focus crimes such as theft, rape, robbery, and physical injury were not released.
Azurin added that the Peace and Order Indicator (POI) covering the period January 1 to December 26, 2022 generally went down by 12.01 percent or 28,007 cases: from 233,241 total crimes in 2021 compared to 205,234 total crimes this year.
Azurin stated that the POI decreased nationwide: in Luzon by 10.78 percent (13,774 total crimes); Visayas by 6.46 percent (2,768); and Mindanao by 18.32 percent (11,465).
The POI covers the crimes that reflect true crime picture and peace and order situation of a community. This comprises the totality of the index and non-index crimes.
Index crimes refer to serious crimes that include homicide, murder, rape, physical injury which are classified as crimes against person; and robbery, theft, carnappping of vehicles and stealing of motorcycles which are classified as crimes against property.
Meanwhile, non-index crimes are violations of special laws such as reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property or physical injury, violation against women and children, illegal possession of firearms and drugs, illegal logging, acts of lasciviousness, and direct assault among others.
"The PNP is doing its best to address all public safety concerns to better improve law enforcement and public safety operations in the coming months. We also recognize that trust between law enforcement and the community is essential for a safe and prosperous society, and we strive to earn and maintain that trust and confidence every day," Azurin emphasized.