NegOcc top cop backs DILG’s move on PNP’s internal cleansing

By Glazyl Y. Masculino and Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Police Colonel Leo Pamittan, director of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here, said that he will heed the call of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to cleanse the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP) of rogue cops involved in illegal drugs.

Pamittan issued the statement a day after Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson told the media in an interview that he is encouraging the provincial police director to follow the order of his superior by also submitting his courtesy resignation.

Pamittan said he was among those who executed their personal compliances and undertakings, as they expressed their full support and cooperation to the noble objective.

“We are open to any inquiry on involvement in illegal drug-related activities by duly constituted administrative body in relation to this noble goal of cleansing the ranks of the PNP,” the Nocppo director said.

Pamittan said he supports Chief PNP General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and Brigadier General Leo Francisco, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 for taking the lead in the attainment of such a goal.

Pamittan said they condemn the illegal acts of the PNP officers who have tarnished the reputation of the organization by their involvement in illegal drugs.

“Rest assured they shall be brought to the bar of justice,” he added.

He also said that they will take all necessary actions to help cleanse the PNP organization, as he also reiterate their commitment to serve and protect the communities and the people.

Lacson on Monday told reporters here that he encouraged Col. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, to follow Abalos’ call.

“That is the call of their superiors. They should follow,” Lacson said.

Abalos Jr. earlier asked for the courtesy resignations of all police generals and colonels in the PNP in the wake of the alleged involvement of some ranking police officials anew in the illegal drug trade.

“We all know that men in uniform never ask questions. They just follow,” Lacson said.

The governor also said he wants to talk to Pammitan, who has yet to inform him of his stand.

On his part, Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, director of the Bacolod City Police Office, confirmed that he tendered his courtesy resignation on Friday, along with several police colonels assigned to Region 6 who expressed their full support to the call of Abalos in cleansing the ranks of the PNP.

There are two police brigadier generals and 29 police colonels in Western Visayas.

Lacson said he is hoping that those being cleared by the fact-finding committee that will be created by the PNP will allow those police officials to retain the positions they are in.

Meanwhile, the Association of Chief Executives Negros chaired by Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, who was named by DILG as among its BIDA (Buhay Ingatan, Droga’s Ayawan) ambassadors, supported Abalos’ call.

BIDA is the national government’s anti-drug campaign.

The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), of which Lacson is a member being governor of Negros Occidental, also expressed its support to Abalos.

As explained by Secretary Abalos, the call forms part of the cleansing process, Lacson said, stressing also “what is important, is it will redound again to the reduction of illegal drugs”.

Lacson admitted that it is very hard to eradicate the problem of illegal drugs, because “it is a lucrative business, with people tempted to involve themselves in this practice”.