By Jennifer P. Rendon
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rommel Francisco Marbil said the police organization does not need any additional support.
“We don’t need anything anymore,” Marbil said, recounting his recent conversation with House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez when the latter asked how he could assist the PNP.
“I didn’t ask for more; many are already helping us,” Marbil stated during his first visit as PNP chief to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 headquarters in Camp Delgado, Iloilo City, on Tuesday, July 2.
Marbil requested that police officers invited to congressional inquiries be allowed to go into executive sessions which is away from public eye and media coverage.
“When a police officer is humiliated, it reflects on the entire organization,” he said, drawing applause from the audience.
Marbil emphasized that police officers should be treated with respect during congressional investigations.
“No matter what happens, we only have one Philippine National Police. When the organization is damaged and people lose trust, they begin to think that the police are involved in wrongdoing,” he said.
He noted that the PNP is doing its best to discipline erring officers.
“Many police officers are risking their lives without being seen,” Marbil added.
He underscored that the PNP cannot be abolished or replaced.
“The Philippine National Police will endure. Even if there are changes or chaos, we still have only one PNP,” he said.
Building trust in the PNP is essential, Marbil stressed.
“If you don’t trust the PNP, where will you go? Why destroy the only PNP you have? That’s my only request,” he said.
Marbil concluded by reaffirming the PNP’s commitment to the tagline, “Sa bagong Pilipinas, ang gusto ng pulis, ligtas ka” (“In the new Philippines, the police want you to be safe”).
