The Philippine National Police (PNP) has begun shifting its internal cleansing approach from using punitive measures to implementing preventive strategies aimed at stopping police misconduct before it begins, a top police official disclosed on Friday, Jan. 23.

Acting PNP Chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the new strategy includes stricter screening of police recruits, as well as continuous training and psychological assessments of active personnel.

“Prevention is better than cure. We have shifted our focus on preventive and early interventions to strengthen the moral and spiritual foundation and instill discipline and integrity among our personnel,” he said.

“We also have integrity monitoring and mentorship programs to guide young officers toward professionalism,” he said.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier claimed that integrity in the PNP has been restored after the organization was cleansed of syndicates and “ninja cops.”

For Nartatez, the focus must now be on the long-term sustainability of the police’s professionalism.

“The PNP recognizes that a corruption-free police force cannot exist in isolation. That is why we collaborate with local communities, barangay councils, and civil society organizations for transparency initiatives and reporting mechanisms,” he explained.

To support these reforms, Nartatez said the PNP is also expanding the use of technology in high-risk operations.

He said body-worn cameras and Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking will be more widely deployed to create digital audit trails.

In fact, more than 17,000 body cameras are expected to be delivered to the PNP this upcoming May to further promote transparency in its operations.

“These tools are designed to protect both the public and the integrity of honest officers,” he said.