The Philippine National Police (PNP) has taken a hardline stance against misconduct within its ranks, revealing that a significant number of personnel have faced administrative penalties over a nine-year period. Under its Internal Disciplinary Mechanism, the police force has dismissed thousands of officers in a sweeping internal cleansing campaign.
Scale of Disciplinary Action: A Breakdown of Penalties
According to a comprehensive report from the PNP's Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM), a total of 32,698 police personnel were found guilty of administrative offenses from July 2016 to November 26, 2025. The consequences for these infractions were severe and varied.
The data shows that 9,027 individuals were dismissed from the service entirely. Beyond dismissals, the PNP implemented a range of corrective measures. These included the demotion of 1,725 personnel, suspension orders for 15,311 officers, and salary forfeiture for 1,221 individuals. Furthermore, 4,355 received formal reprimands, 528 faced restriction penalties, and 531 had specific privileges withheld.
A particularly alarming subset of the dismissals involved drug-related issues. The report indicated that 1,037 of the dismissed personnel were involved in drug-related offenses or tested positive for illegal drug use.
Leadership Drive: Nartatez's First 92 Days
The momentum of the internal cleansing has continued under the current leadership. In the first 92 days of acting PNP chief Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., the institution resolved a substantial number of cases.
During this period, 1,339 administrative cases involving 2,308 personnel were concluded. The resolutions led to the dismissal of 428 personnel, the demotion of 71, and the suspension of 448. An additional 1,152 cases were dismissed during this timeframe, indicating a rigorous review process.
General Nartatez emphasized the PNP's dual approach of reward and punishment. "While the PNP is reasonably generous in giving due recognition and reward for outstanding performance, it is also swift and decisive in imposing punishment for breach of discipline and misconduct," he stated. He left no ambiguity about the institution's stance, declaring, "There is no room for 'rogue cops' in this institution. Our zero-tolerance policy is firm — because public trust is non-negotiable."
Morale and Transparency Amidst Cleansing
Addressing concerns that such a widespread disciplinary campaign could affect the force's spirit, Nartatez assured the public that morale within the PNP remains high. He made this statement following a recent incident where six policemen from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group were charged for allegedly stealing PHP13 million from seized evidence.
"Will this lower the morale of our personnel? No. Our people’s morale remains high," Nartatez stressed. He provided context, noting that approximately 95 percent of PNP personnel perform their duties honorably. The disciplinary actions, therefore, target the minority who tarnish the institution's image. "It is only fair that we act decisively against the five percent or fewer... They will be dismissed," he added.
The PNP has reiterated that its internal disciplinary processes, guided by policies like PNP Memorandum Circular 20-2020, are robust, transparent, and consistently applied. This ongoing effort underscores the leadership's commitment to accountability and restoring public confidence in the national police force.
