A total of 695 personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are undergoing summary dismissal proceedings for charges ranging from abuse of authority to rape.

PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said that a total of 2,165 cases were filed against policemen during the period January to November 2010 but 1,470 of them had been resolved.

At present, 695 cases are still being heard for resolution and the accused men in uniform are facing possible dismissal from the police service.

Bacalzo said that recent charges against policemen range from simple abuse of authority to serious grave misconduct, illegal discharge of firearms and rape.

On December 31, a member of the Manila Police District, identified as PO3 Antonio Bautista, was accused of raping a vendor whom he arrested for vagrancy. The alleged sexual molestation was committed right inside the MPD headquarters.

During the first day of the year, Supt. Ricardo Dayag, chief of the Talavera municipal police station (MPS) in Nueva Ecija was shot dead by his own deputy, Insp. Bernardo Castro, right in front of the station.

”The PNP regrets and is deeply concerned that some of its personnel are involved in a number of criminal incidents over the past several weeks,” said Bacalzo.

”We want to assure the public that the PNP leadership does not and will not tolerate such criminal acts and serious violations of public trust,” added Bacalzo.

Bacalzo also assured that steps have been taken to serve justice against those aggrieved by men in uniform.

”The PNP, particularly the police ground commanders, have already undertaken immediate actions while at the National Headquarters level, preventive measures have been initiated to stop these incidents and institutionalize measures to prevent similar occurrences,” said Bacalzo.

In Manila, the MPD had launched an intensified manhunt to arrest Bautista who has not reported for work since the alleged rape.

Meanwhile, the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office (PPO) has already taken Castro into custody, facing administrative and criminal charges for killing Dayag. (PNA/PIA9-Pagadian)

Last update: 12-01-2011 12:33