The National Police Commission (Napolcom) faces a string of controversies, courtesy of its present and former commissioners linked to various allegations. But under a new leadership, will the Napolcom undergo a major overhaul?
Newly appointed Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said a major change is needed in the commission that oversees police operations. Napolcom is under the DILG and the interior secretary sits as its chairperson.
“The bigger agenda ticket is number one, creating a policy recommendation to the president for reforms in the PNP [Philippine National Police] and the Napolcom. It’s an old law, crafted 1990…. So, I think it has to be revisited. I think the structure has to be revised. I think Napolcom has to be reviewed as well,” Remulla said in a Rappler Talk interview.
In a separate message, Remulla confirmed to Rappler that he will also order a review of the appointments of Napolcom commissioners, including its vice chairperson and executive officer (VCEO), Alberto Bernardo. The reason? Remulla said some of these appointments could be “irregular.”
The new interior chief did not expound on the grounds they will be looking at, but Rappler earlier reported about the issues that hound Bernardo’s appointment.
Retired or not?
Former president Rodrigo Duterte appointed Bernardo in March 2022 as Napolcom vice chair and commissioner, replacing former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. Under Republic Act 8551, Napolcom commissioners have six-year terms, with no extension or reappointment.
Rappler earlier reported that the VCEO filed for retirement at age 64 and his application was already approved by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). Bernardo’s official’s retirement took effect on November 1, 2023, but he remains with the Napolcom.
A human resources lawyer, who requested anonymity, earlier told Rappler that Bernardo could already be considered separated from service.
Bernardo confirmed his retirement to Rappler and explained that he had availed of optional retirement under the GSIS law, since he already met the required years in government service. He added that he availed of the optional retirement so he would have medical funds for his hospitalization.
Last May, the Commission on Audit (COA) asked the Napolcom to explain Bernardo’s appointment, following Rappler’s investigation. The COA auditors inquired about the basis of Bernardo’s continued stay in office, among others.
Bernardo told Rappler that his office already responded to the auditors’ query: “‘Pag in-appoint naman ‘yong tao for a term of six years, kamukha ‘yong sa human rights commission…may mga nagsi-65 doon, nag-re-retire sila [sa] membership sa GSIS pero hindi ka mag-re-retire kasi [fixed] term.”
(If a person was appointed for a term of six years, like in the Commission of Human Rights. There were people who turned 65 there and they only retired their GSIS membership, but they did not retire from their posts because of their fixed term.)
Up to now, there is no clear recourse on Bernardo’s appointment.
Leonardo’s resignation
Recently, former Napolcom commissioner Edilberto Leonardo was thrust into the spotlight after he was implicated in extrajudicial killings, in the House of Representatives’ quad committee probe into Duterte’s drug war, Chinese syndicates, and illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators.
Leonardo, a retired police colonel, has been named by self-confessed Davao Death Squad (DDS) member Arturo Lascañas as an alleged member of the DDS that supposedly took kill orders from Duterte.
In the quad comm hearings, Leonardo was first tagged in the killings of three Chinese drug lords in Davao in 2016, along with other officials like Duterte and retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma.
He was later implicated in the ambush of PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga, who was assassinated in 2020. Leonardo was pinned as the one who gave the kill order to anti-drug cop Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza in the guise of an anti-drug operation.
Recently, Garma revealed that Leonardo had been tapped by Duterte to lead the anti-drug operation nationwide based on the so-called “Davao template” that rewarded drug war killings under the former city mayor.
Following these allegations, Leonardo resigned from his post. In his resignation letter, he said he quit “to avoid any suggestion of impropriety on the pending investigation” against him by the PNP.
Why this matters
Reforms in the Napolcom are extremely important due to the following reasons:
- The Napolcom is a powerful institution that needs to be governed by qualified commissioners.
- An attached agency to the DILG, the commission has the duty to “exercise administrative control and operational supervision over the PNP, with the end in view of ensuring a highly capable, effective and credible police service.”
- The commission advises the president on all matters related to the police and “recommends to the president a crime prevention program.”
- The Napolcom also has the power to recommend qualified police generals who will serve as the chief of the 230,000-strong PNP. Incumbent PNP chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil is retiring in February next year, so the Napolcom is set to give its recommendation on the next top cop.
In other words, a strong and reliable Napolcom is needed to implement changes in the PNP, and for the government to effectively prevent criminality in the country. – Rappler.com