GORDON EYES BETTER PNP, WANTS TO ELIMINATE 'KABARO SYSTEM'

To enable the Philippine National Police (PNP) to better serve and protect the public, Senator Richard J. Gordon called on the PNP leadership to advise Congress on what they needed to improve the police force such as the need for good detectives to focus solely on investigating and solving crimes.

Speaking before law enforcers during Monday's flag-raising ceremony that marked the 23rd PNP Ethics Day, Gordon said Congress can work on the budget to help the PNP.

"You have the right to go to Congress and tell us what you need. We will work it out in the budget. Like the additional investigators, which I understand, the PNP needs at present. If you look at all the unsolved cases noong araw pa, may salvaging, riding in tandem, ngayon EJK. Any case involving a murder has to be solved," the senator pointed out.

"That is why you require a elite unit of detectives na dapat papasok dyan para mag-solve and it will give more career opportunities to our policemen. Na dapat meron tayong magagaling na detectives, i-train natin at bigyan natin ng pondo para talagang gumaling" he added.

At the same time, Gordon also reiterated his call for the creation of drug and police courts that will handle solely cases involving drugs and policemen involved in killings. He also called for speed from the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) in conducting investigations on erring policemen and in submitting recommendations.

"Kapag may nangyari, administrative case naman yun eh hindi naman criminal case. He can be suspended, he can be relieved. He can be taken out and he can make his appeal. Kapag nakikita ng tao na gumagalaw ang kapulisan sa kapwa nila, mas marerespeto ang pulis. Kaya iminungkahi ko ang pagkakaroon ng drug and police courts para madaling maresolba ang mga kaso," the senator said.

"Noong araw sa Olongapo, ako mismo ang nagbibigay ng parusa kapag may tiwaling pulis doon noong mayor pa ako. Ang sakit ng kalingkingan ay sakit ng buong katawan. Di na dapat palalain. Dapat ang mga kaso malutas agad kasi speed is the name of the game," he added.

In the Committee Report that he submitted to the Senate on the inquiry conducted by the Senate Committee Justice and Human Rights, Gordon made several recommendations that aims to improve the country's criminal justice system.

Among them is the creation of drugs and police courts that would solely hear cases involving illegal drugs and cases against erring policemen. He also recommended amendments to the PNP law, particularly the sections on IAS, giving it a time limit in conducting investigations on erring policemen and submitting recommendations.