The Philippine National Police (PNP) Health Service is finalizing the recommendations regarding psychiatric and psychological exams on all police officers, police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said this Sunday.
This follows a series of killings and shootings of several police officers, most recently at the headquarters of the Manila Police District (MPD).
“This recent incident at MPD, along with the previous ones, highlights the need for us to closely look into the overall state of our men,” said Eleazar.
“Hindi nagtatapos sa kung paano nila ginagawa ang kanilang trabaho, kasama dito ang pagtingin sa kanilang physical, emotional at lalo na ang kanilang mental state,” he added.
Police Executive Master Sgt. Reynante was arrested at the MPD headquarters on Friday night, where a fellow policeman was killed, and another was injured.
Dipasupil, who was found drunk at the time, was also killed when his comrades encountered him.
The PNP chief assured that the ongoing investigation into the MPD incident will be scrutinized.
A policeman who killed a 52-year-old woman in Quezon City in May was also fired from service.
A young man with special needs died after being shot by police in operation against sheep in Valenzuela last month.
PNP finalizes recommendation for police psychological exam guidelines
In December, mother and son Sonia and Frank Gregorio from Paniqui, Tarlac, were also killed after being shot by police.
PNP chief Eleazar ordered Chiefs of Police (COP) to focus on their personnel who have mental health concerns.
Dr. Maria Bernadette Manalo, a member of the Philippine Psychiatric Association, said it is important for the police to have regular and continuous psychiatric monitoring, especially since their mental health should be guided.
“I would really recommend monitoring them as well. Because, you know, it’s hard when you’re on the road, you’re outside, you’ve encountered a lot of traumatic incidents,” said Manalo.
She also said that it would not work to conduct psychiatric assessments only once a year.
“Kailangan talaga every 3 to 6 months,” she said.
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