Sen. Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Senator Panfilo Lacson on Friday likened erring policemen allegedly extorting money from drug suspects to criminal syndicates 鈥渢hat they themselves are mandated聽 to neutralize.鈥�
鈥淚f true, these policemen are no better than the kidnap for ransom gangs that I used to chase throughout my law enforcement career,鈥� Lacson said in a text message.
The senator headed the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the time of then President Joseph Estrada, who is now mayor of Manila.
鈥淭hose responsible must therefore be treated no differently from those criminal syndicates that they themselves are mandated to neutralize,鈥� he said.
Lacson, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, issued the statement when sought for comment on reports that a dozen drug suspects had been detained in a secret cell behind a shelf in a police station in Tondo, Manila.
READ: Drug suspects found in secret police cell
Some of the detainees claimed that they were being asked to pay certain amounts for their release.
READ: Punish abusive cops behind clandestine cell鈥擯angilinan
The incident, Lacson said, was another 鈥渂ig challenge鈥� that the PNP had to resolve with dispatch.
鈥淭his is definitely another big challenge that the PNP leadership has to resolve with dispatch. There is no other way,鈥� the senator said. IDL/rga
RELATED VIDEO