Deputy Speaker and Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante Jr., has expressed his full support for efforts to cleanse the Philippine National Police (PNP) of corrupt elements, and on Monday said that he welcomed the statements of newly-appointed PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, who said that he would not hesitate to remove what the top cop referred to as “hoodlums in police uniforms.”
In a privilege speech, Abante urged the PNP leadership to address a series of senseless killings involving police personnel, adding that he is hopeful Eleazar “will back up his tough words with even tough action.”
The legislator reiterated his call for the the PNP “to be proactive, to take the initiative, and to consider instituting sensible reforms to address and to prevent these senseless deaths.”
“We have seen in the past few months some disturbing incidents involving the PNP, and it is clear that the institution needs honest, decisive, no-nonsense leadership in order to prevent such tragedies,” stressed the lawmaker.
“The PNP is in need of reform and of some serious course corrections, and we pray that Gen. Eleazar will pursue these in order for the PNP to truly fulfill its mandate to serve and protect our citizens.”
In a privilege speech, Abante called for an investigation into the February 24 shootout between units of the PNP and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). It was among several issues raised by the solon, who also cited incidents such as the April 2020 killing of an Army veteran by police at a quarantine checkpoint in Quezon City, the June 2020 shooting of four Army Intelligence officers in Jolo involving nine members of the PNP, and the December 2020 mother-son murders committed by a PNP member in Nueva Ecija.
Abante had ended his speech by urging the leadership of the PNP and our law enforcement agencies “to take a long, hard look at their organizations, at their personnel, and at their operations.”
The legislator reiterated his call for the the PNP “to be proactive, to take the initiative, and to consider instituting sensible reforms to address and to prevent these senseless deaths.”
Abante had ended his speech by urging the leadership of the PNP and our law enforcement agencies “to take a long, hard look at their organizations, at their personnel, and at their operations.”
“Uulitin ko po ang sinabi ko noon: each day that passes without action on the part of the PNP is another day faith and confidence in law enforcement is eroded. Sana po matutukan po ito ng bagong hepe ng PNP.”
Following his assumption as the new PNP chief, Eleazar in a speech issued a warning to members of the PNP: “to the remaining hoodlums in police uniforms, I will make sure that you will hate me.”
The PNP chief added that we would not think twice about removing corrupt police officers and also vowed to improve the PNP’s complaint referral and monitoring system.