To unify its fight against illegal drugs, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief, on Tuesday floated the idea of creating a “superbody” for its operations.
“Pinag-aaralan din namin ‘yun (We are studying it),” Gamboa said in a radio interview.
The superbody, according to Gamboa, could help unify the PNP’s functions in its anti-drug operations.
It could be tapped to review cases and rehabilitate drug suspects, among others.
“All these things, kung may isang body [that] will oversee everything, then ang direction ng campaign against illegal drugs in all sectors na pwede natin gamitin, [gamitin natin] (All of these things, if there is one body that will oversee everything, then the campaign against illegal drugs in all sectors could be guided by this superbody),” Gamboa explained.
The proposal could be discussed in the PNP’s next command conference in November, he said.
On Monday, Gamboa bared that a total of 454 PNP personnel were dismissed from the service for being involved in drug-related cases that were recorded from July 2016 to September 20, 2019,
Of the 454 cases, 352 were positive for illegal drug use and 102 were involved in other illegal drug-related cases.
Of the 352 personnel positive for drug use, 336 police non-commissioned officers (PNCOs),
10 were non-uniformed personnel and six were police commissioned officers (PCOs).
Of the 102 involved in other drug cases, 98 were PNCOs and four were PCOs.
Another proposal that Gamboa sees as worth considering is setting retirement age from 56 to 60.
He, however, said he was not rushing it because the proposal could be implemented for the
“next generation.”
“Aaminin ko, old na ako kasi in one year magre-retire na ako. We have more wisdom probably because of experience. So, dapat balansihin natin ito (I admit I am old because in one year I will retire. We have more wisdom probably because of experience. So, we have to balance it),” Gamboa explained.
When then-PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde resigned on October 14, Gamboa was designated to head the organization in an acting capacity.
He is said to be among the contenders for the country’s top police post.