Never allow dishonesty, abuse in your work – FMJ
By J.Lo
“I enjoined all of you to give it your best as you always have, without sacrificing your integrity as servants of the people…let us be united in supporting PNP leadership and its crusade against those who intend to inflict harm and disorder,” President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. called on police force to work with integrity and never allow dishonesty and abuse in their performance of duties.
President Marcos graced 121st Police Service Anniversary celebration held at PNP Multi-Purpose Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
In his address, Marcos urged police officers to do their best without sacrificing their integrity as public servants.
“Let us continue to conduct our business with utmost integrity and accountability and let us not allow even hint of dishonesty and abuse to enter that narrative,” he stressed.
As vanguards of peace, President Marcos said police officers are examples of the kind of leaders country needs to overcome problems.
“With solid support of vast majority, there is no doubt in my mind that we will overcome and triumph in the end despite all odds,” President Marcos said.
The President also reminded police officers that use of force when in line of duty should always be reasonable and justifiable.
President Marcos emphasized many police officers have manifested important values that must be inherent in the conduct and execution of duties.
The Chief Executive also stressed that police force should execute their duty with fairness and impartiality.
“Given gravity, seriousness, difficulty of responsibility and relative influence that you carry, it is a must that application of your mandate is firmly grounded on moral principles, integrity, accountability, and honesty to ensure continued public rapport and support from the public for PNP, ..for instance, use of force must always be reasonable, justifiable, and only undertaken when necessary…execution of authority must be fair, it must be impartial, it must be devoid of favoritism or discrimination regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status, political affiliation, religious belief, and the like,” President Marcos said in his speech.
He also said PNP has gone through many tough challenges along the way “as it continues to march forward relentlessly pursuing safety, security, and peace for everyone to enjoy and relish as we go about our daily lives.”
“To be honest, for the work that you do, I am more than convinced that police service is calling that not everyone is capable of rendering as it requires moral standard that is usually inherent in our being and demands enormous commitment and responsibility that sometimes admittedly are difficult to endure,” President Marcos said.
Meanwhile, President Marcos expressed confidence the leadership of newly-installed PNP chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. would be of great complement to his administration’s effort “towards complete rebirth and restoration of brighter, safer, and more prosperous Philippines in the days ahead.”
“I am confident that we have chosen the right leader in his person to head PNP so that it continues to evolve, continues to grow, and to develop into well-balanced institution , effective and capable of steadfastly rendering faithful service to our sovereign nation and all its citizenry,” President Marcos said.
Under Azurin’s leadership, President Marcos wants to witness police organization that has higher sense of commitment, determination, and cooperation.
“Chief PNP General Azurin’s able governance will serve as impetus that would further develop and strengthen PNP in its resolve to promote goodwill and harmony in the heart of our motherland,” President Marcos said.
Azurin formally assumed post as nation’s top cop last week.
He had launched his peace and security framework entitled “MKK=K” or “Malasakit + Kaayusan + Kapayapaan = Kaunlaran” which he said is “ combination of care, order and peace shall equate to progress.”
PNP hopes that an amendment passed by US House of Representatives limiting US assistance to the police organization will be reconsidered.
In a press conference, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said police organization will address the matter through diplomatic channels.
“It is very unfortunate that a congresswoman in US introduced an amendment in their National Defense Act due to questions about human rights,
” she said.
“Hopefully, they would reconsider para naman po for the benefit of both countries also,” she added.
On July 14, US lawmakers agreed to include an amendment seeking to stop US assistance to PNP in proposed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 “until series of human rights requirements are met.”
In her remarks on the House floor, Pennsylvania Congresswoman Susan Wild, who introduced the amendment, said US taxes should not be used to supply weapons, training, and other forms of assistance to Philippine state security forces over “violent” human rights violations.
“After an estimated 30,000 extrajudicial killings in the Philippines between 2016 and today, after the assassinations, arbitrary arrests, torture, and red-tagging of labor organizers and oppositions leaders, after former President Rodrigo Duterte’s calls for assassinating politically engaged bishops, and after the Philippines has been named year after year by the International Trade Union Confederation as one of the world’s 10 most repressive countries for the labor movement and workers, the time is long overdue to begin putting some basic human rights guardrails in place in the United States-Philippines relationship,” the Democrat lawmaker said.
Fajardo said that the PNP as an institution is an advocate and defender of human rights.
She added that the PNP is not aware of the specific cases that the lawmakers considered in passing the amendment.
Fajardo said police organization has been coordinating with Department of Justice (DOJ) in its investigation into alleged human rights violations committed in some police operations.
Under the amendment, the US Secretary of State and Defense should certify first that Philippine government has already “investigated and successfully prosecuted members of PNP who have violated human rights,” before providing assistance.
Among assistance PNP has been receiving from the US are trainings in investigation, anti-drug enforcement, and anti-child trafficking, Fajardo said.
From 2016 to 2021, the US provided over 600 trainings to over 11,000 Filipino participants.
The US also provided laptops and investigative equipment that are now being used by PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Special Action Force, and Anti-Cybercrime Group, she said.
Fajardo added, however, that removal of assistance from US would only have small impact on PNP since other foreign countries and the Philippine government are also supporting operations of the organization.
If the amendment is implemented, it would affect programs of the PNP in 2023, she also said.
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