Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ismael D. Sueno today lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) for remaining true to its mandate of cleansing the police organization of misfits and scalawags.

Citing a report submitted by PNP- IAS Director, Chief Supt. Leo Angelo Leuterio, Sueno said PNP- IAS has so far conducted 1,261 motuproprio investigations on the deaths during police anti-illegal drug operations.?Of this number, 356 investigations are still pending; 27 have so far been terminated; 302 have been dropped and closed; 547 have been charged with administrative complaints; 28 have been submitted for summary hearing proceedings; and one has been submitted to disciplinary authorities following the resolution of the case by IAS.

At the same time, of the 164 PNP personnel who tested positive for illegal drugs during random drug testing, 126 have been levied with administrative complaints, nine have been submitted for summary hearing proceedings, and three have had their cases resolved. With regard to the 19 remaining personnel, lack of jurisdiction for various reasons has prompted IAS to resolve their cases with one personnel dismissed from the service; eight Absent on Official Leave; two dropped from the rolls; one deceased personnel; and seven non-uniformed personnel whose cases were forwarded to the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management.

"Recent investigations into police ops show that there are culprits among our ranks. That is not to be tolerated," Sueno stressed. "Our policemen have a sacred duty to protect our people from the threat of illegal drugs and ensure peace and order from the barangay level upwards. There should be no room for hypocrisy or grave violation of the PNP's mandate."
He enjoined all concerned units in the PNP to unify their efforts in ridding the agency of criminal activity and addressing any irregularities within the force.

The Department Secretary also expressed dismay upon learning about the shooting incident on October 9, 2016, in Barangay Maligaya, Gloria, Oriental Mindoro, wherein two junior police officers were implicated in the shooting and killing of Citizen Crime Watch chairman ZenaidaMontejo Luz.

The policemen-suspects are facing murder charges and the case has been forwarded to the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro.

The Secretary said he is closely monitoring the progress of the case and he is expecting that justice will be served.