Nearly 400 policemen with minor offenses will be tasked with cleaning a portion of Pasig River near Malacañang, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.
But before they get their hands dirty, Dela Rosa said they will report first to President Duterte.
The PNP chief said he would accompany the 387 policemen from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to Malacañang.
“I have already ordered the RD (Regional Director) of NCRPO to report here at Camp Crame so that I could accompany them to Malacanang and have them make a formation in front of the President,” he said.
The PNP has drawn the ire of Duterte after some members of the police’s anti-narcotics units were linked to the kidnap-slay of Korean executive Jee Ick Joo last October in Angeles City.
As a result, Duterte ordered the PNP to back out of the government’s anti-drugs war.
Dela Rosa said the erring cops were due for retraining in Subic, but decided instead to have them clean up the historic river.
He said the cops are expected to remove water lilies that affect the flow of water near the presidential house at the Bahay Pangarap inside the Palace.
Earlier, Duterte said he prefers the suspension of erring cops instead of retraining them.
“We have not talk about it, but I will seek for his final guidance,” said Dela Rosa.
Since he assumed the post in July last year, Dela Rosa has reassigned more than 100 policemen involved in illegal drugs to Mindanao.