Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson reminded the Philippine National Police (PNP) that discipline must begin with leadership by example.
Speaking at a Kapihan sa Senado forum on January 14, Lacson stressed that this principle gives the PNP chief the moral authority to demand integrity from the ranks.
“When I was Chief PNP, I had only one baseline – leadership by example. If the Chief PNP does not extort or engage in crime, he has the moral authority to tell his men to follow his example,” Lacson said.
His remarks came after recent crimes involving police personnel, including rape in Cebu, a stabbing in Camp Crame, and a shooting in Negros Oriental.
Lacson, who served as PNP chief from 1999 to 2001, recalled cleansing the force of rogue officers, which boosted public trust in the institution.
The senator expressed confidence that acting PNP chief P/Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., with Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, will discipline what he called the ICU – Inept, Corrupt, and Undisciplined – police officers.
“Nartatez knows my style as Chief PNP. I hope he, with the help of the DILG secretary, will discipline the police,” he added.
Lacson also vowed to file a measure making the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) independent, saying, “The IAS must be separate from the PNP and have more teeth and more power. For now, it seems to be an adjunct of the PNP and is not truly independent.”