Philippine police officers may soon have to hold all their drinking sessions at home if the Local Government secretary’s new order is finalized.
Earlier today, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año told the Philippine Star that he has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to issue a circular that bans police officers from drinking in public.
And the consequences for those who violate it are no joke. According to Año, erring cops could face administrative charges like dereliction of duty, insubordination, and gross neglect of duty.
“We cannot have armed policemen walking around in public reeking of alcohol and not in their best state of mind as it implies lack of discipline among our uniformed personnel. Respect your badge and uniform,” he said, according to the same Philippine Star report.
But Año isn’t totally to blame for this proposed policy, the first party pooper was President Rodrigo Duterte himself.
He floated the idea during a speech addressed to Metro Manila local officials yesterday, Rappler reported.
“You police [officers], I’m warning you, do not drink in public. In Davao, I already banned that, now [it will be banned] all over the Philippines. You do not enter into drinking places,” he said in English and Filipino.
Duterte alleged that some cops would go on a shooting spree after drinking, Rappler said.
He also suggested the same ban for members of the military, according to another report by the Philippine Star.
In November, Duterte also banned cops from going to casinos. This prompted the PNP to remind its officers that going to casinos and other gambling activities violate laws and ethics public servants are subject to.
Reader Interactions