MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it is looking to tighten its recruitment process to ensure that only honest and reliable individuals would be able to enter the service.

In an interview with reporters, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said this is part of a measure to cleanse police ranks of scalawags, including those involved in illegal drugs.

“We are looking at the recruitment process. Is there something wrong with it? For now, we implement a nameless and faceless recruitment system to avoid the “palakasan” (patronage) system. We don’t want those who have devious backgrounds to enter the service so we would strengthen our character and background investigation,” she said.

Fajardo said they would also look into the training provided to police officers.

“What is important to emphasize right is whatever error is committed by police officers, whether it is a simple mistake or major blunder, the PNP takes it seriously. This is why we are telling the public that we have dismissed a lot of police officers. We do not tolerate these and this is not the culture and the norms within the PNP,” she noted.

The police force, citing its latest data, showed it has resolved 4,082 cases involving personnel from Jan. 1, 2022 to Aug. 30 this year.

These cases encompass a range of penalties imposed, including 935 dismissals from the service, 242 demotions, 1,850 suspensions, 159 forfeiture of salary, 680 reprimands, 110 restrictions, and 106 cases of withholding of privileges.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., in a separate statement, said this step underscores the police force’s commitment to ensuring that its personnel adhere to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.

“The PNP is strengthening its Internal Disciplinary Mechanism and intensifies efforts in reiterating the Doctrine of Command Responsibility and Police Operational Procedures to every member on the ground. We are bringing across our message to the people that the PNP leadership strongly condemns any wrongdoing of its few misguided members,” he added. (PNA)