MANILA — Describing some policemen as “lousy”, President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday said that he might return the training of police recruits to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“I think that I might return the training itself and the militaristic activity training of the police back to the PNP itself,” Duterte said during the 120th anniversary of the Philippine Navy in Pasay City.
“It has not done good since we transferred it to [the] Public Safety with due respect to General de Leon,” he added, referring to the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC).
Duterte said that he believed PPSC president and retired Police General Ricardo de Leon was very “competent” but noted that the system where PPSC handles training “ain’t working.”
“We’re producing, to my mind, some lousy men getting into the service under questionable circumstances,” Duterte said.
The President said that it seemed like there was a lack of effort to conduct background check among police recruits since many end up being criminals.
“Nagkulang tayo doon sa (We lacked) background check and even the matter of the protocol of joining the police. Marami diyan mga salbahe (There are many policemen) who are really criminals,” Duterte said. “Some of them sadly, are really into drugs.”
He, meanwhile, warned policemen who are involved in the drug trade that their days are numbered.
“May I just remind everybody, including, most of all the policemen, I’m just warning them that if you are into it, you will be the first to go,” Duterte said.
The PNP has earlier expressed its desire to transfer the training to its agency.
Former PNP chief Director General now Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Ronaldo “Bato” Dela Rosa pointed out that the PNP is the only police agency in the world not training its own policemen.
At present, all police recruits undergo a training program under the PPSC before they are turned over to the PNP for formal hiring. (PNA)
