Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said yesterday that the seven trigger-happy policemen should be given the boot after they were caught firing their guns during the holiday season.
Lacson, who went hard after rogue cops when he headed the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001, said these policemen are “scumbags” who showed no regard for life.
“What if someone got hit and died, or paralyzed? Damn these scumbags! They have no purpose in life, really. Give them the boot ASAP, Chief,” he said, referring to PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde.
Lacson, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, stressed the need for the PNP to sustain its internal cleansing efforts, pointing out that rogue cops “do not deserve to stay a minute longer in the police service.”
On New Year’s Day, Albayalde said the seven policemen now face administrative cases for indiscriminate firing during the holidays.
The PNP said the seven are among 23 “trigger-happy gun holders” who face charges for firing their guns between Dec. 16 and early morning of Jan. 1.
Albayalde said the 23 gun holders were involved in 26 reported incidents of illegal discharge of firearms in the holiday revelry.
Other than the seven policemen, also arrested were two government officials, one soldier, 10 civilians, two security guards, and one law enforcement agent, the PNP said.
Lacson had deplored the abuses committed by some PNP personnel despite an unprecedented salary increase for military and uniformed personnel, in compliance with Joint Resolution No. 1. (Mario B. Casayuran)
