SEVERAL lawmakers on Wednesday asked the ruling Liberal Party (LP)and other political allies of the Aquino administration to keep off the promotion process of the Philippine National Police (PNP), saying that political influence could endanger the peace-and-order campaign in the country.
Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon of Kabataan said he received information that an LP senator has launched preliminary moves to have his former aide de camp, now a police general, designated as the next PNP chief in time for the 2016 political season which officially starts next year.
Ridon said political intrusion in the police service, while considered a bane in the peace-and-order program, is expected as the country prepares for the 2016 national elections. “Any PNP revamp at this point will surely have 2016 on its mind. It is, thus, imperative for the public to test whether the loyalty of senior officers benefiting from a revamp is not to the ruling party,” he said in a statement.
Party-list Reps. Lito Atienza of Buhay and Jonathan de la Cruz of Abakada aired serious apprehensions about political intercession that could “seriously spoil professionalism” in the police service and set off serious demoralization problems.
Atienza also challenged President Aquino to “shield” the PNP from politics.
“Yes, I am sharing the apprehension that political interest can intervene in assignments. This reshuffle and review is long overdue with the miserable performance of the present setup,” he said.
De la Cruz, meanwhile, called for public vigilance to “expose political maneuvering” with the police service. “As much as possible we should insulate the PNP from political pressures,” de la Cruz stated.
These lawmakers made the call following reports of a planned year-end revamp in the PNP.