NEW Philippine National Police chief, General Debold M. Sinas has ordered a strict ‘no take policy’ among his officers and men vowing to go after any member of the police who continue to get money from all illegal sources in the country.
Sinas also vowed to further strengthen the PNP disciplinary mechanism and penalize all erring police personnel who defy his order. “We will continue to religiously enforce and honestly the ‘No-Take Policy’ on illegal funds from drug lords, gambling lords and other illegal sources of funds,” he said.
The member of Philippine Military Academy ‘Hinirang’ Class of 1987 who on Tuesday became the 25th PNP chief said this means they will be launching an honest-to-goodness campaign against illegal drug trafficking, all forms of illegal gambling, prostitution and other places of ill-refute which has been a source of corruption in the force in the past.
“We will ensure to stop the operation of unlicensed gaming corporations as well as small-time illegal gambling operators in order to curb their unlawful operations,” he said referring to ‘jueteng’ operators who continue to operate their illegal numbers’ game using government lottery as a ‘front’ as well as operators of banned ‘video-karera’ and other illegal number games in the country.
The PNP chief has ordered the revitalization of the different PNP drug enforcement units to focus their operations against ‘high-value targets/individuals’ and in the identification and neutralization of the remaining ‘ninja and narco-cops’ including their associates.
He told the Journal Group that he plans to institute some leadership changes in the coming days particularly in units involved in anti-narcotics operations.
“Drug enforcement units will be manned by personnel with no reported or suspected involvement with illegal drugs to ensure its integrity. Likewise, replacement of personnel currently assigned in all Drug Enforcement Units with appropriately vetted policemen will be enforced,” he said.
As implemented by his predecessors, the PNP chief said he will also ensure that policemen won’t be allowed to play golf during office hours and to strictly observe and comply with the presidential directive banning their presence in casinos and other places of ill-refute.
“Any member of the PNP who will be involved in corrupt practices will not be tolerated and will be investigated and dismissed immediately from the police service if found guilty under the PNP disciplinary mechanism or in the proper court of law,” he said.
The ‘no-take policy’ means that all police units nationwide led by the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the 17 Police Regional Offices will be going after unlicensed gaming corporations and small-time illegal gambling operators who are known for using State-run number games as a ‘front’ for their illegal jueteng operations.
He said that there will be no compromise in his campaign against ‘inept, corrupt and undisciplined’ or ICUs which was popularized by former PNP chief-turned Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ M. Lacson from 1999 to 2001.
Gen. Sinas also barred his men from playing golf during office hours and from going to casinos as previously ordered by President Duterte.
The top cop said that under his stewardship, he will make sure that only those who perform will be rewarded and those who will violate his directives will be punished accordingly.
“Equally important is the strict observance of discipline inside police camps and stations, “ he added.
According to the former National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, he will make sure that all administrative cases involving police officers and men will be resolved immediately by empowering commanders to exercise their disciplinary powers. operations
Gen. Sinas said that he will also be further ordering a stepped-up campaign against criminality by optimizing police visibility thru the so-called ’15-85’ deployment scheme in which only 15 percent of the actual strength of a police station are allowed to remain at their offices to do administrative work while the 85 percent are in the field for more focused police operations.
“This is to maximize presence of policemen on the streets with the end view of improving peace and order situation,” he said during the turnover of command between him and now retired Gen. Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan which was presided by Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año in Camp Crame.
