'Gaya ng dati': Acorda issues directive for all cops to use whistle, baton

Back to the good old days.

The use of service firearms will now be the last option for policemen in dealing with law offenders after the Philippine National Police (PNP) has issued a directive which paved the way to the return of whistle and baton as part of their uniform.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr. said the use of whistle and baton was discussed during the recent command conference with all the regional directors and heads of support units.

Acorda explained that the issuance of the directive was based on the analysis and observation over the years wherein policemen have not tendency to resort to the use of firearms even in warning law offenders.

“It appears that the course of action for our policemen is always to use their gun, firing warning shots. But that is not allowed in our rules of procedures,” said Acorda.

“So in line with that, we have issued a directive for the return of the use of whistles and it will become part of their uniform,” said Acorda.

The use of whistle and baton is a policy of the police in the past, as depicted in some of the old Filipino movies. 

Former PNP chief and now Sen. Ronald dela Rosa earlier proposed the use of whistle and baton for policemen following the death of 17-year old Jhemboy Baltazar at the hands of Navotas policemen.

At the height of the drug war, policemen were also criticized for always resorting to firearms and even in alleged planting of evidence such as the case of 17-year old Kian delos Santos who was killed by erring members of Caloocan City police.

Acorda said the use of whistle and baton is already being implemented by some police units: “It’s being implemented on the ground. The memorandum was already relayed and it’s already being implemented.”