COTABATO CITY --- The
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is urging the public to report any abuse or wrong-doing
committed by policemen not only to the Philippine National Police (PNP)
authorities but also to the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) in their
localities in support to the anti-drug war of the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA).
Nomaire Madid,
Director II of the DILG-ARMM, said the PLEB is a check and balance mechanism
organized at the city and municipal levels, giving citizens the power to
complain against law enforcers who abuse their authority.
“In relation to
this endeavour, the DILG-ARMM has recently conducted the first batch of Capacity
Enhancement Training of People’s Law Enforcement Boards in Maguindanao which
catered to at least 18 municipalities. The second batch shall follow soon,”
Madid said.
Section 43 of
Republic Act 6975 or the DILG Act of 1990 provides for the creation of PLEBs in
every city/municipality to conduct hearings and adjudication of citizens'
complaints against uniformed members of the PNP.
Accordingly, the PLEBs
all over the country are powerful agencies which have the authority to
discipline policemen. Among these powers are investigating and adjudicating all
administrative charges formally filed with, or referred to it, against any PNP
member, and to impose corresponding penalties that range from withholding of privileges,
restriction to specified limits, suspension or forfeiture of salary or fine,
demotion in rank of not more than one rank or dismissal from the service of the
erring police.
The PLEBs are also
empowered to administer oaths, summon witnesses, and require the production of
documents, records, books, and the like under the subpoena ducestecum.
It was learned
that the LGUs are also mandated to include in their annual budget an allocation
for the maintenance and operation of their local PLEBs.
Madid said Section
72 of RA 8551 states that the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan in
every city and municipality shall create at least one PLEB for every 500 police
officers in a city or municipality and for each of the legislative districts in
a city.
“The PLEBs shall
be composed of any member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan
chosen by their respective Sanggunians, any barangay captain of the city or
municipality chosen by the Association of Barangay Captains, and three other members from the private sector and
among the respected members of the community known for their probity and
integrity with three years term of office,” he further added. (GILMHAR A. LAO – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
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