Lawmakers urge PNP to assess mental fitness of its recruits following the outburst of a police officer over the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur and Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strengthen its recruitment process.
The lawmakers made the appeal in a press conference in response to the emotional reaction of Patrolman Francis Steve Fontillas of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) in his vlog after Duterte’s arrest.
“Kasi kailangan talaga ‘yung I think the PNP has to make a very strong measure in determining the psychological capacity of all the recruits. Kasi of course bibigyan mo ‘yan ng baril, bibigyan mo siya ng responsibility,” said Adiong.
(I think the PNP must implement strong measures to determine the psychological capacity of all recruits. They will be given firearms and responsibilities, after all.)
Ortega agreed, emphasizing that the PNP, National Police Commission (Napolcom), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and similar agencies must assess both the physical and mental fitness of recruits.
“Nandyan naman na yung Napolcom eh… siguro it’s in within their best interest na sila naman po ‘yung nakatutok na rin po diyan, and sabi nga po natin um um may recruitment po dyan,” he said.
(The Napolcom is already there… perhaps it is in their best interest to focus on this aspect, as recruitment is ongoing.)
“Sabi ko nga, usually kasi po dyan ‘yung matibay po saka nakaka-last sa physical exam, nakaka endure po dun sa physical side ng pagiging parte po ng kapulisan o ano man, Armed Forces,” he added.
(I said that usually, those who pass are physically strong and endure the physical exams required to be part of the police force or the Armed Forces.)
“Siguro dito makikita natin na kailangan na rin pong bigyan ng weight saka emphasis po ‘yung other na criteria, like ‘yung on the mental side. Saka maganda po na yung evaluation nito is parang mas ano talaga…na mas may improvement or mas may stringent yung pagpili natin,” Ortega further stated.
(Perhaps we need to give more weight and emphasis to other criteria, such as mental fitness. It would be better if evaluations were stricter and showed improvements.)
Adiong noted that Fontillas appeared to be experiencing personal issues.
“Nakita ko ‘yung portion ng kanyang ah video video, ‘yung vlog. So I guess something is troubling this guy no. I mean it’s beyond his passion of vlogging. I think some something is not right. The choice, his choice of words. Ah, hindi lang yung passion ng ah pagba-vlog no? Something is troubling. I hope he finds the help that he needs,” he said.
(I saw a portion of his video, his vlog. I guess something is troubling this guy. It goes beyond his passion for vlogging. Something is not right—the choice of words. It’s not just about vlogging. I hope he finds the help that he needs.)
The Mindanao lawmaker agreed with PNP officials that police officers must remain neutral in political matters.
“So pero dun naman sa pagsabi niya, klaro naman ‘yun eh. Because if you’re an officer, if you’re a uniformed man, you’re uniformed officials, especially PNP and even civil servants, bawal po maging partisan. Ah, that’s under the Constitution. That’s under the Omnibus Election Code,” Adiong explained.
(What he said was clear. If you’re an officer, a uniformed official, especially in the PNP or as a civil servant, being partisan is prohibited. That is under the Constitution and the Omnibus Election Code.)
He also pointed out that the Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees prohibits government workers from engaging in partisan political activities.
“I think within the PNP, you have to remain apolitical, they have to remain true to their mandate. They have to remain loyal to the government, to the flag and to the country. Whatever politics that they may have had personally…should not be used as a means to voice it out and then incite violence, because that is contrary to what they have sworn in as policemen,” Adiong added.
He reiterated, “On a personal level, I think he needs some help.”
Meanwhile, the QCPD has already filed an administrative case against Fontillas.