Marcos mulls creation of PNP legal department
Credit to Author: Helen Flores| Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0800
MANILA, Philippines — To protect police officers from harassment, President Marcos is eyeing the creation of a legal department within the Philippine National Police.
Marcos ordered the PNP to study the proposal during a command conference he presided over on Tuesday at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“We’ll create an office, the legal office within the PNP who will be the defense council of any policeman who is charged with whatever complaint, crime,” Marcos told the PNP.
“They should have a lawyer to run to just to give them advice and it will be internal, so they won’t have to pay,” he added. Marcos said there were instances when cases were “weaponized” against the police.
The measure would protect the PNP from influential groups harassing the police force, he said.
Providing police with legal assistance within the institution will embolden them to do their work, Marcos said.
“They can be charged with anything. Some of them (those who charge police officers) are powerful figures. They have a lot of capability, a lot of resources, a lot of money. They have a lot of access to prominent lawyers. We need to have a defense as well. Yes, we have to protect our people,” he said.
The PNP currently has a legal service office, but it is reportedly lacking lawyers who will respond to the legal needs of police personnel.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo on Tuesday maintained that Marcos’ command conference with the PNP is not a loyalty check.
The President has also presided over command conferences with the military in past weeks.
These took place after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV had alleged that two police generals were plotting to destabilize the government and oust Marcos.
Last month, Marcos called on the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to remain professional and true to their sworn duties.