The Philippine National Police (PNP) reiterated Chief Pol. Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil’s “zero tolerance” policy—enforced to preserve the police force’s integrity—after Vice President Sara Duterte issued a message for the PNP Academy’s (PNPA) fresh graduates, wherein she made an allusion to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Duterte challenged the “Sinaglawin” Class of 2025 to always choose to do what is right, and never let wrongdoing, such as the betrayal of a fellow countryman, spoil their profession.
“Sa inyong kagitingan at kahandaan na tunay na magsilbi, sana ay lagi ninyong piliin ang tama. Huwag sana ninyong hayaan na mabahiran ang inyong propesyon ng mali katulad ng pagkakanulo sa isang Pilipino ng kanyang kapwa Pilipino. Walang kapatawaran ang pagsuko at pagpapakulong sa mga dayuhan ng isang Pilipinong naglingkod ng tapat sa ating bayan,” she said.
(In your bravery and readiness to truly serve, I hope that you will always choose what is right. Please do not let your profession be tainted by wrongdoing like the betrayal of one Filipino to his fellow Filipino. There is no forgiveness for the surrender and imprisonment of a Filipino who has faithfully served his country in the hands of foreigners.)
In a report by RH 52 Edniel Parrosa, the PNP Public Information Chief Pol. Col. Randulf Tuaño said that although Duterte’s message was a good one, it was supposedly already included in their Commander-in-Chief, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive.
A “zero tolerance” and “no second chance” policy is already in effect, Tuaño said, as imposed by Marbil against noncompliant officers. Presently, 1,288 policemen have already been sacked due to various cases from April 1 to 23, according to Camp Crame’s records.
“Sususugan pa po natin. Ang sabi po ng ating Chief PNP, ito ‘yung zero tolerance sa pagkakamali ng ating Philippine National Police members at ‘yung there will be no second chance sa mga magkakamali. Gawin lang po natin kung ano ‘yung nasa batas at kung ano ‘yung tama,” Tuaño said during a press briefing.
(We will reinforce this. Our Chief PNP has said this is zero tolerance for our Philippine National Police members’ mistakes, and that there will be no second chances for those who commit errors. Let us simply follow the law and what is right.)
However, Tuaño has not directly addressed Duterte’s allusion to the former President’s arrest, who is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands for alleged crimes against humanity committed during his brutal War on Drugs.
