DILG-ARMM strengthens PLEB

COTABATO CITY --- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is urging the public to report any abuse or wrong doing committed by policemen not only to Philippine National Police (PNP) authorities but also to the People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) in their localities in support to the anti-drug war of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Nomaire Madid, Director II of DILG-ARMM, said the PLEB is a check and balance mechanism organized at the city and municipal level, giving ordinary citizens the power to complain against law enforcers who abuse their authority. In relation to this endeavour, the DILG-ARMM has recently conducted the first batch of Capacity Enhancement Training of People’s Law Enforcement Boards in Maguindanao which catered to at least eighteen municipalities. The second batch shall follow soon, Madid said.Section 43 of Republic Act 6975 or the DILG Act of 1990 provides for the creation of PLEBs in every city/municipality to conduct hearing and adjudication of citizens' complaints against uniformed members of the PNP.Accordingly, PLEBs all over the country are powerful agencies which have the authority to discipline policemen.Among these powers are investigating and adjudicating all administrative charges formally filed with, or referred to it, against any PNP member, and to impose corresponding penalties that ranges from the withholding of the privileges, restriction to specified limits, suspension or forfeiture of salary or fine, demotion in rank of not more than one rank or dismissal from the service of the erring police. The PLEBs are also empowered to administer oaths, summon witnesses, and require the production of documents, records, books, and the like under the subpoena duces tecum. It was learned that the LGUs are also mandated to include in their annual budget an allocation for the maintenance and operation of their local PLEBs.Madid said Sec. 72 of RA 8551 states that the Sangguniang Panglungsod or Sangguniang Bayan in every city and municipality shall create at least one PLEB for every 500 police officers in a city or municipality and for each of the legislative districts in a city. PLEBs shall be composed of any member of the Sangguniang Panglungsod or Sangguniang Bayan chosen by their respective Sanggunians, any barangay captain of the city or municipality chosen by the Association of Barangay Captains, and three (3) other members from the private sector and among the respected members of the community known for their probity and integrity with three years term of office he further added. (GILMHAR A. LAO)