PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino 3rd on Thursday reminded officers and personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to shun efforts by any politician to bribe them, noting that there will be “temptations” during the election season.
“We know that the election period, for the uniformed personnel, is a time of temptations,” the President said during the 37th graduation rites at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in Silang, Cavite province.
He challenged the members of the Masundayaw Class of 2016 to resist these temptations and to put the interest of the nation ahead of everything.
“Ang hamon ko sa bawat pagkakataong humaharap ako sa mga guma-graduate tulad ninyo: Kung abutan kayo ng sobre kapalit ng inyong dangal, magpapabili ba kayo? Kung may napangakong promotion kapalit ng inyong pananahimik, sa harap ng katiwalian o pang-aabuso, tatanggapin ba ninyo? Kung pinapili kayo: bayan o sarili, alin ang uunahin ninyo?” he asked.
The President also reminded the graduates to adhere to the principles of the Daang Matuwid (straight path), adding that as public servants and good soldiers, they should obey the orders of their superiors.
In an apparent reference to former Special Action Force (SAF) director Getulio Napeñas, who led the botched Oplan Exodus that led to the death of 44 elite police commandos in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao province last year, Aquino said there is a need to revise the PNP law so that sanctions may be promptly imposed on “disobedient” officers.
“Sa ganitong paraan matutukoy ang mga probisyong pumipigil sa agarang pagpapataw ng parusa sa mga pinunong nagkukulang sa pagtupad ng tungkulin. Gayundin, mapapaigting nito ang disiplina sa pagsunod sa ating mga patakaran, at mapapangalagaan ang karapatan ng lahat,” the president stressed.
In his speech, the president also gave his marching orders to the graduates.
“Siguruhing ligtas, mapayapa, at tunay na sasalamin sa pasya ng ating mga Boss ang ating eleksyon. Tumalima kayo sa inyong tungkulin, at sumunod kayo sa utos ng inyong mga opisyal, pinuno, at sa buong liderato (Ensure that there will be peaceful elections and make sure that the outcome mirrors the votes of our bosses. Follow the orders of your officers and leaders),” said Aquino.
It was his last time to attend a PNPA graduation rites as president.