MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — The Philippine National Police could face a leadership crisis and a possible breakdown of command if policemen would be suspected of participating in gruesome crimes and the rampant killings will not resolved immediately.
This was according to Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon.
“There seems to be a leadership crisis in the PNP and a breakdown of command at some levels, if not at all levels,” Drilon said.
“If policemen are always suspected of participating in gruesome crimes, then how can Filipinos trust them?” the senator added.
Drilon said that the case of South Korean businessman Jack Ick-joo kidnap slay inside the Camp Crame, as well as the mounting number of unresolved deaths related to the illegal drugs war showed that the country is heading toward a serious problem.
“If such crime could be committed inside the PNP’s very headquarters, then how can anyone feel safe anywhere?” he said.
“The country is heading towards a serious law enforcement problem when these killings remain unabated and unresolved and a culture of impunity among law enforcers perpetuates,” Drilon added.
He also said that the killing of Joo inside the Camp Crame is a shameful episode in the history of PNP.
“The killing of Ick-joo inside Camp Crame is one of the most horrific, alarming, and shameful episodes in PNP history,” Drilon said.
He then reminded the police force of its constitutional mandate to enforce the laws, and to ensure the safety of the public.
“I remind PNP of its mandate to enforce the laws, prevent crimes, and ensure public safety. To abide by it faithfully would mean that anyone among its ranks who breaks the laws they swore to enforce, and perpetrates the very crimes they are duty-bound to prevent will not go unpunished,” Drilon concluded.
(MRF Bonalos, Eagle Online Media Service)