DILG assures taking necessary measures for PNP’s reporting system

The Department of the Interior and Local Government Unit, which shepherds the Philippine National Police, has pledged to take necessary measures amid reports that the latter's messaging reporting system has been hounded by anomalies.

PNP 2920 is the organization's reporting system, where individuals can text in complaints against erring PNP personnel.

PNP offices are mandated to create or activate their version of TXT 2920, "Isumbong mo kay Tsip," and "Anti-Kotong Text," to serve as a watching or check and balance mechanism against its personnel and act with dispatch on reports reaching their office.

During the sponsorship debate on the DILG's P262.0 billion budget for 2024, 1-Rider Partylist Rep. Bonifacio Bosita raised the question of whether PNP's 2920 is still active since he, himself, witnessed how the PNP covered up its personnel against complaints.

Quezon City Rep. Luisa Cuaresma, the DILG's budget sponsor, responded that the system is under the monitoring of the DILG, "particularly the PNP who's in charge of that."

According to Bosita, a retired police commission officer before his stint in Congress, he witnessed how the PNP maneuvered the process to make it appear that the complaint was not legitimate.

"When something happens at a police station, it will reach the PNP headquarters and be forwarded, communicated to the regional office of the PNP and taken down to the provincial police of the PNP and taken down to the police station concerned where the police being complained about is assigned," Bosita said.

"Because of this, Madam Sponsor and Mr. Speaker, the chief of police is trying to make it appear that the report received by the national headquarters is just a lie," he added.

Cuaresma countered Bosita's assertion by saying that the PNP examines whether in what department the complaint should be endorsed.

She, however, assured Bosita that the DILG officials, including its Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., who was present during the plenary debate, will take the necessary action to stave off such issues, palaguing the PNP with Bosita's coordination.

Meanwhile, Bosita clarified that his statement should not be regarded as a threat against the PNP since he wanted to help raise the organization's image and cleanse it of some corrupt and abusive police.

"Mr. Speaker, Madam Sponsor, I only mentioned this out of love for the PNP that I hope that in the little way we can help," Bosita said.