PALO, Leyte — The Police Regional Office 8 (Eastern Visayas) is stepping up its internal cleansing drive with the filing of administrative cases against 22 police officers this year.
Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, PRO-8 director, said Tuesday these police officers are charged with misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
“My directive is to fast-track the resolution of these cases and to impose administrative sanctions against those involved, if found liable, as part of carrying the PNP (Philippine National Police) chief’s order to cleanse the ranks of erring officers,” Carlos told reporters.
He reiterated his appeal to policemen to adopt and change their old ways, especially those involved in illegal drugs, gambling or other illicit activities, and live their lives anchored on ethical values.
“We need to be serious in this campaign. We cannot just allow our efforts to go to waste. In fact, I am constantly moving around, conducting spot inspections on our personnel in police stations to check on them,” Carlos added.
Supt. Joker Cuanso, chief of the regional police’s internal affairs service, said of the 22 erring policemen, only one is a chief inspector and the rest are senior police officers or police officers.
This year, no police officer has been charged with illegal drugs use or trade, Cuanso said.
“For each case filed, we have 30 days to do a preliminary investigation, 30 days to conduct determination of probable cause, and 60 days to conduct a summary hearing before coming up with a decision,” he added.
Cuanso urged the public to report police officers involved in anomalous activities. ( Sarwell Meniano/PNA)
