PNP launches legal aid program for cops

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) launched recently its Panyerong Pulis program that aims to protect cops conducting police operations from harassment cases.

Supt. Lyra Stella Valera, spokesperson for the PNP legal service, said police officers can ask legal questions through Panyerong Pulis in case complaints have been filed against them in relation to the performance of their functions.

“Panyerong Pulis is a facility which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is a lawyer who is always on call to answer the queries. We revitalized PNP legal service’s flagship projects to strengthen our legal service functions,” she said.

PNP data showed that 426 police personnel availed themselves of the PNP’s legal service from 2012 to 2015.

According to Valera, the most common reasons for the complaints against policemen were related to search warrants, criminal arrest and the conduct of checkpoints.

She said most of the police who benefited from the legal assistance were from Bicol region.

Valera said the PNP legal service will try to entice lawyers to apply with the police force to beef up their legal program.