To ensure functionality and effectiveness of the People’s Law Enforcement Boards (PLEB) in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) Region, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Office IV-A will be conducting series of capacity enhancement training for its members starting November to December this year.
Regional Director Manuel Q. Gotis said the training to be conducted in partnership with the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) is in line with the Department’s commitment to strengthen the capabilities of the PLEB in every city and municipality in the region.
“It is important to capacitate members of the PLEB to ensure the functionality of their vital roles as a grievance redress body where an ordinary citizen can file complaints or cases against law enforcement authorities who abuse their powers,” said Gotis.
He also stressed that the series of capacity development training will help the boards to speed up the hearing and resolution of complaints and cases filed before them.
“The series of training which will involve discussions and workshops on the rules of procedures, case management, administrative proceedings, and decision writing is expected to boost the capacity of PLEB members, hence speeding up the hearing and resolution of complaints and cases filed before the board,” he explained.
CapDev for PLEBs
In a memorandum circular, Gotis stated that the series of training will be rolled out to the provinces on the following dates:
- Batangas – December 4-7, 2017
- Laguna – November 27-29, 2017
- Quezon (Batch 1) – November 6-8, 2017
- Quezon (Batch 2) – November 8-10, 2017
- Quezon (Batch 3) – December 13-15, 2017
- Rizal – November 15-17, 2017
Among the five provincial offices in the region, the DILG Cavite Provincial Office takes pride in pioneering the capacity enhancement training as they have already rolled out the Cavite leg of the training during the first week of October.
Aside from the enhancement training, the DILG IV-A has also established strategic actions in light of their commitment to strengthening the capacities of the PLEB members.
The Regional Director said his office has put up a database and monitoring system to monitor all the cases and complaints filed to the PLEBs. A Regional Project Management Team (RPMT) was also established to help oversee the operations and activities of the PLEB in the region including the development and management of the database system.
Meanwhile, he also encouraged all the local government units (LGUs) to make sure that the boards are functioning in the areas of their jurisdiction and urged those without PLEB to immediately organize one as it is mandated by the law. He added that the PLEB RPMT will go around the region to conduct inventory of cases and ocular inspections of PLEB offices.
Powers of PLEB
Section 43 of RA 6975 provides for the creation of PLEBs, a mechanism where citizens can lodge their complaints against erring members of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Among the powers of the PLEBs include hearing and adjudicating all citizen’s complaints formally filed with, or referred to it, against any uniformed member of the PNP. They also have the power to impose corresponding penalties, such as withholding of privileges; restriction to specified limits; suspension or forfeiture of salary or fine; demotion in rank of not more than one rank; and 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.
Gotis said the Department’s commitment in strengthening the said law enforcement boards is in response to Senator Richard Gordon’s call for the implementation of PLEB as provided for in Section 43 of RA 6975 or the DILG Act of 1990. He said he is thankful for the Senator for pushing the implementation of the PLEBs.
“Tayo po ay nagpapasalamat kay Sen. Gordon sa patuloy na suporta at pagsusulong na mapalakas ang mga miyembro ng People’s Law Enforcement Board sa bawat LGU. Asahan po ninyo na tutugunan natin ang panawagan ni Sen. Gordon na palakasin ang ating mga PLEB,” the Regional Director said.
Sen. Gordon who recently filed Senate Bill No. 1374 amending certain provisions of the existing law governing the PLEB has been leading the current push to strengthen the PLEBs in consideration of recent events and relevant developments in the country today.
Gotis added that the DILG has allocated a total budget of P100 million as initial provision for the nationwide reactivation of the PLEBs for the fiscal year 2017.
