By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA – A total of 70 cops in Metro Manila are facing administrative charges as part of National Capital Region Police Office’s (NCRPO) ongoing internal cleansing program to weed out rogue and erring personnel driven by zero-tolerance policies, NCRPO officer -in-charge Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano said on Friday.
Since Abrahano assumed post as Metro Manila top cop on Aug. 23, a total of 70 police personnel have been penalized in administrative cases —13 were dismissed from the police service, while 57 were suspended.
The 13 dismissal cases involved serious offenses, including Absence Without Official Leave, violations of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, violations of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and estafa, among others.
Meanwhile, the 57 suspension cases included offenses such as unlawful arrest, discharge of firearms, dishonesty, discharge of firearms, negligence and other violations of police rules and regulations.
In a news release, Abrahano emphasized that the NCRPO’s internal cleansing campaign is not merely about imposing punishment but about ensuring that every police officer remains worthy of the uniform and the public trust.
“Internal cleansing is a continuing responsibility. We cannot demand discipline from the public if we cannot enforce discipline within our own ranks. Every complaint must be acted upon, every case must be resolved based on evidence and due process, and every erring personnel must be held accountable,” he said.
The five districts covered by the NCRPO are the Manila Police District, Quezon City Police District, Northern Police District, Southern Police District and Eastern Police District.
Meanwhile, Abrahano warned all police personnel against the unauthorized use of government fuel and police vehicles for private or personal purposes, stressing that these are public resources intended solely for official police duties.
He directed all police districts and units to strictly monitor the use of government fuel and vehicles and ensure that every trip is properly authorized, documented, and directly related to official police operations
