Malacañan Palace Grounds
February 7, 2017

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte faced 228 erring personnel of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) – Philippine National Police (PNP) at the Malacañan Palace Grounds in Malacañang.

Accompanied by PNP Director General Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa and NCRPO Police Chief Superintendent Oscar David Albayalde, the erring policemen were severely reprimanded by the President, ordering them to move out to Basilan after a two-week deadline or tender their resignations to their supervisors.

According to the President, Basilan, a conflict-ridden city in southern Mindanao, needs all the reinforcements to fight off terrorism. He added that if they survive in Basilan for two years, they could come back to their original posts in Metro Manila.

“Bata pa naman kayong lahat. Kailangan ko ng pulis sa south. Kulang ang pulis sa Basilan kasi maya’t-maya pinagpuputok-putok yung mga istasyon doon, nauubos. Kayo lahat ngayon nandito, kasali kayo sa Task Force South. Padala ko kayo sa Basilan. Tumira kayo doon ng mga dalawang taon. Kung lumusot kayong buhay, balik kayo dito. Kung doon kayo mamatay, sabihin ko sa pulis na huwag na maggastos para dalhin pa kayo dito. Doon na kayo ilibing… doon niyo ipakita mga kalokohan ninyo,” the President said.

In a separate interview, PNP Chief Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa identified the rogue cops as those who are facing criminal and administrative cases between 2014-2015, with cases ranging from extortion, robbery, ‘hulidap’, ‘laglag kaso’, and even some minor offenses such as repeated cases of AWOL (Absence Without Leave) and not wearing of proper police uniforms.

NCRPO Chief Oscar David Albayalde said that this is part of their internal cleansing program, and this would not relinquish them from their pending and ongoing cases. He also hopes that the action would reform the policemen for good.

Originally at 387 total count, some of the erring PNP personnel were not present to face the President due to various reasons ranging from ongoing court hearings, schooling, and unauthorized absences.

Initially intended to have the identified men fish out water hyacinth in Pasig River, the President changed his mind and, instead, ordered them to hold their formation under the scorching afternoon sun as part of their corporal punishment while he attends to his 12th Cabinet meeting. The President returned and dismissed the men after roughly four hours of waiting.

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