Tulfo airs frustrations on PNP; here's what he said
Senator Raffy Tulfo on Tuesday, Aug. 16 called out the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its unfair practices, including its alleged penchant to run after small-time drug personalities as well as proposing arraignments in favor of the rich.
At the organizational hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Tulfo voiced out his “frustrations in dealing with the PNP".
He questioned why some police personnel would spend the agency’s resources only to chase small-time pushers, instead of the big ones.
He cited as example a case where an alleged drug suspect, who had been under surveillance for three months, yielded just a sachet of shabu.
“Sana po kung talagang seryoso ‘yung ating PNP na maghuli ng drugs, dapat nagantay sila hanggang sa matukoy nila... kung sino yung supplier. ‘Wag yung sachet sachet lang (I hope of they’re really serious in arresting drug personalities, they should have waited to identify the suppliers, and not those who are just yielding sachets),” he told PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin.
Tulfo, who was a journalist before becoming a lawmaker, also lamented how police have unfairly handled road accidents. He said police personnel would simple ask parties involved for arraignment, allegedly in favor of the rich.
Police would also allegedly make trumped-up assault charges against civilians they want to place in jail.
“Lastly gusto ko sigurong pagaralan ito. ‘Yun bang paggamit na gasgas ng pulis para sila po ay makapakulong ng mga taong kursunada nilang pakulungin, lalo na yung mahihirap (I also want to look into this: the use of trumped-up charges against those they want to jail, especially the poor),” he said.
“Kami pong mga sibilyan, we were not born yesterday. Hindi po kami maniniwala na sino ba naman sibilyan maglalakas loob , armadong pulis at marami sila...versus kami po ay unarmed (We, civilians, were not born yesterday. We would not believe that a civilian would have the courage to fight against armed police),” he added.
Azurin, for his part, pushed for body cameras for police personnel to partly address these issues.
He also said he wants car insurance to be registered under drivers, and not under the car itsel, so their “insurance premium would decrease every time they would commit violations".
“I assure you that will not happen during my watch,” Azurin assured Tulfo and Senator Bato dela Rosa, who chairs the committee. Dela Rosa is himself a former PNP chief.