The logo of the Philippine National Police. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File.

MANILA — At least 674 complaints have been filed against supposed rogue cops in the first quarter of 2025, the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) said Wednesday, saying also that these are isolated cases that do not reflect on the 228,000-member police force.

IAS Inspector General Brigido Dulay, a lawyer, said the number of complaints only highlights the PNP leadership’s commitment to internal accountability and the growing confidence of the public in filing reports—especially with the widespread use of mobile phone cameras as tools for documentation and evidence.

Data from IAS shows that 2,073 complaints were filed against police personnel in 2024 from 1,897 complaints in 2023.

Dulay stressed that the figure should not be seen as representative of the PNP’s overall performance.

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“It’s around one percent of the total workforce lang. The 99 percent is actually dedicated policemen, nagta-trabaho,” Dulay told reporters during a media briefing at Camp Crame.

(It’s just around one percent of the total workforce. The other 99 percent are actually hardworking, dedicated police officers.)

“We will go after the one percent every day, every week, every month, and every year. We will try to go after the one percent,” he added.

Dulay acknowledged that even a small number of rogue officers can severely damage the PNP’s reputation.

“Na-solve natin ‘yong sa kidnapping naman, marami namang accomplishment tayo in the crime rate pero balewala lahat ‘yon eh ‘di ba? Balewala lahat ‘yon kapag tinapatan mo ng video ng isang lasing na pulis na pumapasok sa bahay, ‘di ba? ‘Yon ang masakit.”

(We’ve solved kidnapping cases, and we’ve had a lot of accomplishments in reducing crime—but all of that seems meaningless, right? It’s meaningless when it’s overshadowed by a video of a drunk cop entering someone’s home. That’s what hurts.)

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Meanwhile, Dulay said the IAS has begun pre-charge investigations into the administrative complaints against Police Maj. Don Don Lapitan, the recently dismissed chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of the Quezon City Police District, along with the jailer and desk officer involved in allowing a female detainee to go on a “staycation” with her family at a hotel on April 18.

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IAS is also investigating a police officer of the QCPD for alleged illegal entry into a private residence without a warrant and for the alleged assault of a minor while intoxicated. 

The incident reportedly occurred shortly past midnight last Sunday in Barangay Damayan, Quezon City.

According to Dulay, the IAS is expected to file formal charges within seven days. Following that, the involved officers will face a summary hearing, which typically lasts 60 to 90 days.

“Kailangan din po titigan namin ‘yong partisipasyon po ng superior ng mga pulis na ito kung meron po silang kinalaman doon sa pangyayari at sila ba ay merong pagkukulang kung bakit nangyari po itong mga insidente,” Dulay said.

(We also need to look into the possible involvement of the superiors of these officers, and whether there was any negligence on their part that contributed to these incidents.)

The results of the hearings will then be followed by the IAS’s recommendation to the Office of the Chief PNP, depending on the outcome of the investigation.

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