Dela Rosa: 67 rogue cops to be axed this month

MANILA, Philippines — Sixty-seven policemen involved in various offenses would be dismissed from service in January, Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa said Monday.

In a televised press briefing, Dela Rosa said that the National Police Commission would give the resolution of its investigations on scalawag cops to President Rodrigo Duterte within the month.

The erring policemen committed various offenses such as involvement in illegal drugs, grave misconduct and neglect of duty.

Dela Rosa revealed that even ranking officials, including a senior superintendent, would be sacked.

These include the cops involved in the indiscriminate firing incident during the New Year revelries and in the “mistaken identity” shooting incident in Mandaluyong City last month.

Dela Rosa, whose term was extended until April, said he would be harsher to rogue policemen.

“Maybe we can be harsher this time around. Harsh, harsh, harsh to the harshest level. We will show no mercy to erring cops,” Dela Rosa said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The outgoing police chief added that the internal cleansing of the PNP’s ranks is his priority in his last months in office. 

He is supposed to retire on January 21 when he reaches 56, the mandatory retirement age for the uniformed services. But Duterte extended his term for another three months.

Dela Rosa will be the next head of the Bureau of Corrections. 

READ: Dela Rosa confirms term extension until April 21