Senate President Koko Pimentel III has called on friendly nations to offer training courses to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help improve the competence of the national police force, specifically their crime-solving skills.
Pimentel in particular is interested in securing assistance from “friendly” countries with highly-regarded police forces, such as the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and other members of the European Union.
“The country continues to suffer from ‘deaths under investigation’ without seeing suspects arrested, charged, and sentenced in court. If the PNP cannot improve itself, it should consider outside assistance,” the senate chief said.
Pimentel has previously called out the PNP for its inability to solve crimes and the involvement of its members in perpetrating crimes.
The senate head, who pushed for the passage of Joint Resolution No. 1, series of 2018, which increased the base pay of military, police, and uniformed personnel, is determined that the Filipino people get their money’s worth in the form of improved service from the police.
“We increased the salaries of policemen. We approved funds for training police officers. We made sure the PNP budget is sufficient. We want to see the PNP deliver on its end of the bargain. Make us feel safe. Catch criminals. Solve crime,” he said.
Catch criminals. Solve crime.
The Senate President, who sponsored the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) Modernization Law, last year proposed a VFA-style agreement to help train the PNP.
Pimentel reiterated his proposal for foreign assistance to the PNP after criticizing their performance in a statement, saying, “…Maybe we can bring in experts from truly professional police forces such as the Scotland Yard or the FBI to teach our policemen the basics of police work, respect for human rights, and how to obey the law.”
The Senate President, President Duterte’s chief ally in the Senate, has been critical of the performance of the PNP, which he feels compromises the administration’s war on drugs and crime.