President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered a study for the possibility of creating a legal department within the Philippine National Police (PNP) as part of the administration’s efforts to protect the welfare of the police officers against harassments and flimsy accusations.
In a second command conference with the PNP on Tuesday in Camp Crame, President Marcos highlighted the need to create PNP’s legal department that will serve as the defense council of any police officer charged with various complaints.
“We’ll create an office, the legal office within the PNP who will be the defense council of any policeman who is charged with whatever complaint, crime. Mayroon at mayroon silang tatakbuhan kagad na abogado just to give them advice and it will be internal, so hindi na sila magbayad,” President Marcos said.
“Pag-aralan natin nang mabuti because ginagawang weapon, wine-weaponize ‘yung kaso. So, kapag nahuli ‘yung kriminal, huling-huli na, pero magaling abogado tapos walang kalaban-laban naman ‘yung ating pulis,” he added.
The President said the government cannot just ignore the welfare of the police officers, especially ordinary policemen and women who dedicated their lives to doing good in the PNP, but cannot afford a lawyer, or seek legal services.
He added the measure also aims to protect the PNP from influential groups harassing the police force.
“They can afford a lawyer so for one week tapos, tapos na. So we have to provide that kind of protection para naman ‘yung mga pulis natin, malakas ang loob na gawin ‘yung trabaho nila. Kahit tama ‘yung ginagawa nila, hinaharass sila,” President Marcos said.
“Kakasuhan sila ng kung ano-ano, some of them are powerful figures. So, syempre, marami silang capability, maraming resources, maraming pera. Marami silang access sa mga sikat na abogado, kailangan mayroon din tayong pang depensa. Yes, we have to protect our people,” he added.
The chief executive said the PNP legal department will be responsible for providing legal advice and other services to the police officers.
President Marcos led the 2nd PNP Command Conference at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday where they discussed PNP’s operational accomplishments and compliance to Presidential directives, among other issues. PND
