PNP not restive over national politics, Lacson says

PLARIDEL, Bulacan – Former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday that unlike the military, the PNP is not at all restive over national politics.

Lacson, a senatorial candidate of the Laban-Puwersa ng Masa, said he does not see a similar problem with the PNP.

"Politics in the PNP is different from that in AFP. When the AFP moves, then that’s it. In the PNP, politics is only internal and is not concerned with national politics," he contended.

He contended that the PNP, unlike the military, does not have the capability to initiate any coup. The other day, re-electionist Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Gregorio Honasan claimed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is restive and fractious following the breaking of the chain of command on Jan. 19.

Honasan said that the military rank and file is getting restive over the perceived deficiencies of the military leadership.

Enrile said that restiveness is most felt among sergeants up to the post of battalion commanders but not among the generals. He warned that the situation could get worse and the Arroyo administration would have difficulty arresting it unless remedial measures are undertaken immediately.

Enrile said that the generals do not speak for the ordinary soldiers, and that the sergeants and commissioned officers up to the rank of major are the ones who are in close contact with the soldiers. – Efren Danao