Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel (Facebook)


A ranking congressman has underscored the need for legislation that would separate the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) from the Philippine National Police (PNP). Commission on Appointments (CA) Assistant Minority Leader and Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel called for this as he noted, "The illegal drug trade in particular is clearly having a monstrous corruptive influence on police officers, and we must counteract this." “We should separate the IAS from the PNP, and put the service directly under the control of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government,” Pimentel said. “This way, the IAS can forcefully and freely operate without getting swayed by any consideration of the officers involved,” he explained. The PNP Reform and Reorganization Law of 1998 created the IAS to investigate infractions committed by officers. However, the actions of the IAS are subject to review and may be reversed by superior officers. Ongoing inquiries by the House and the Senate have put a spotlight on the alleged complicity of police officers in drug trafficking, including the theft of confiscated "shabu" supplies that are sold for cash and recycled back into the market. At least 49 senior and junior officers, including a general and five colonels, have been implicated in the alleged whitewash of unlawful and unethical police actions during a controversial buy-bust involving P6.7 billion worth of shabu in Manila. The IAS has been receiving an annual budget of P800 million for staff pay alone, according to Pimentel. Under the law, the IAS is empowered to Inspect and audit PNP units and personnel to ensure behavioral discipline and operational readiness, investigate complaints of misconduct and  gather evidence against officers involved, and conduct summary hearings on officers facing administrative charges; It can also file criminal cases against officers as warranted by evidence and assist in the prosecution of the cases, aid the Office of the Ombudsman in cases involving officers, and submit periodic evaluation reports on the character and behavior of units and personnel to the PNP chief and the National Police Commission (Napolcom). Pimentel is a vice chairman of the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability.