POE SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN PNP-INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Sen. Grace Poe today called for the strengthening of the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to effectively carry out the speedy resolution of cases involving policemen.

During the hearing of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, it was revealed that manpower lack and low salaries in the IAS hamper the IAS in probing policemen charged with wrongdoing.

Atty. Alfegar Triambulo, former Davao Region director of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) and the newly appointed civilian head of PNP-IAS, told senators that currently, the police service's institutional watchdog only has two intelligence officers and eight investigators and needs adequate personnel per region.

"We have to throw our support by enacting laws that will truly address the needs of the PNP to effectively serve the public. My particular concern is the Internal Affairs Service because they are the ones that conduct investigations on rogue and erring cops and one of their concerns is to have more manpower, to have a higher salary base and also to have more powers to be able to issue subpoenas," Poe told reporters at the sidelines of the Senate hearing.

Poe, author of Senate Bill No. 868 or the proposed PNP-IAS Reform Act, said it is high time that the IAS be given powers to summon certain individuals and have contempt powers.

Poe also lamented the fact that the PNP-IAS' power under the existing law is only recommendatory in nature, and that any result of their investigation goes to the PNP Chief and Napolcom for review.

"Ang IAS kasi ang nag-iimbestiga ng mga pulis na kasangkot sa mga anomalya. Sila dapat ang nangunguna sa pag-iimbestiga dito. Tapos ang liit pa ng mga sweldo nila kaya talagang mahihirapan sila na imbestigahang mabuti ang mga kurakot na mga pulis sapagkat kulang na kulang talaga sa suporta ang Internal Affairs Service," she added.