DILG chief to mayors: PLEBs should be working

MANILA, Philippines — Newly appointed Interior Secretary Mel Sarmiento said local chief executives should make sure the People's Law Enforcement Boards (PLEBs), a mechanism where citizens can lodge their complaints against erring policemen, are functional at their level.

"Ang People's Law Enforcement Board ay sumbungan dapat ng mga tao. Sa PLEB, may sumbungan sa batas ang mga tao laban sa mga pulis na abusado," Sarmiento said.

Section 43 of Republic Act 6975—the law creating the Philippine National Police—provides for the creation of PLEBs in every city or municipality to conduct hearing and adjudication of citizens' complaints against uniformed members of the Philippine National Police.

Under the law, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Budget and Management shall withhold the release of the LGUs' share in the national taxes in cities and municipalities still without PLEBs.

Sarmiento said that the establishment of PLEBs is mandated to the LGUs who have the primary responsibility of making sure the boards are functioning in their areas of jurisdictions.

"Hindi alam ng tao kung saan sila tatakbo. Kung saan-saan tuloy sila napupunta. Sa PLEB, pwede kang magsumbong ng tiwaling pulis at hearing kaagad 'yan 'pag may basehan. If there is no basis for the complaint, it will be dismissed. Not all (police) are penalized. But the board can suspend erring police right away," he said.

The powers of the PLEBs include investigating and adjudicating all administrative charges formally filed with, or referred to it, against any policeman, and to impose corresponding penalties that ranges from the withholding of the privileges, restriction to specified limits, suspension or forfeiture of salary or fine, demotion in rank of not more than one rank or dismissal from the service of the erring cop.

The PLEBs are also empowered to administer oaths, summon witnesses, and require the production of documents, records, books, and the like under the subpoena duces tecum.

Sarmiento said the LGUs are also mandated to include in their annual budget an allocation for the maintenance and operation of their local PLEBs.

PLEBs shall be composed of any member of the Sangguniang Panglungsod or Sangguniang Bayan chosen by their respective Sanggunians, any barangay captain of the city or municipality chosen by the Association of Barangay Captains, and three other members from the private sector and among the respected members of the community known for their probity and integrity with three years term of office. — with Mike Frialde