The Philippine National Police (PNP) chief should be given the power to appoint chiefs of police (COP) of cities and municipalities, some senators said.
Sen. Grace Poe made the suggestion during Tuesday’s interpellation on Senate Bill No. 2449 or the proposed Act Providing for Organizational Reforms in the PNP.
In her interpellation on the bill, Poe suggested to Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, sponsor of SB No. 2449, to consider giving the PNP chief the authority to select and appoint COPs in order to make the selection process free from the influence of the local chief executives.
At present, Dela Rosa said PNP chief can only recommend to the governor or mayor names for the position of chief of police.
“My only apprehension here is the fact that it concentrates the power too much to the PNP chief,” Poe said.
“On the other hand, I don’t believe that there should really be an influence in an area controlled by local government for them to have the prerogative to influence law enforcement because I feel that provides checks and balances,” Poe said.
Dela Rosa agreed with Poe’s proposal as the PNP chief would know best who is fit for the position of COP in a certain city or municipality.
Dela Rosa,, himself, served as PNP chief during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“I know this would be difficult but we have to take the bitter pill,” he said.
Another senator, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano also cited the necessity of strengthening the PNP’s Internal Affairs Services (IAS) as he stresses the importance of organization reforms in government institutions like the PNP.
“Strengthening the IAS will also protect the policemen,” Cayetano pointed out.
“With a very strong IAS unscrupulous police officers will be arrested and prosecuted and, at the same time, it will protect the good ones,” he said.