MANILA, Philippines — November 12, 2026 — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has dismissed 1,562 personnel and penalized more than 5,700 others in an extensive internal cleansing campaign aimed at strengthening discipline, accountability and public trust within the country’s police force.
The figures, released by the PNP under Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., cover administrative actions from August 26, 2025, to November 4, 2026.
According to the police organization, a total of 5,002 administrative cases were resolved during the period, resulting in penalties against 5,742 personnel.
The most frequently reported reason for dismissal was absence without official leave (AWOL), which accounted for 931 of the 1,562 personnel removed from service.
Other listed grounds included illegal drug-related cases, robbery or extortion, and other serious violations.
The latest figures highlight the scale of the PNP’s effort to address misconduct within its ranks. However, they also raise a larger question: Can a sustained disciplinary campaign rebuild public confidence in an institution that is expected to enforce the law and protect the public?
1,562 Police Personnel Dismissed: AWOL Tops the List
The PNP reported that 1,562 personnel were dismissed from service during the reporting period.
AWOL was the leading listed reason, accounting for 931 dismissals.
The other categories identified in the reports included:
- 931 personnel dismissed over absence without official leave (AWOL).
- 141 personnel dismissed in connection with illegal drug-related cases.
- 70 personnel dismissed over robbery or extortion.
- 216 personnel dismissed for other serious violations, according to the detailed figures published by Pilipino Star Ngayon.
These figures show that disciplinary action involved more than alleged criminal misconduct. Attendance and compliance with official duties also accounted for a substantial portion of the dismissals.
The listed categories add up to 1,358, rather than the reported overall total of 1,562. The available reports do not fully explain the remaining 204 dismissals, so the categories should not be presented as a complete breakdown.
The distinction is important: the PNP’s overall dismissal figure is 1,562, but the published categories do not account for every case.
More Than 5,700 Police Personnel Penalized
Dismissal was only one part of the campaign.
The PNP said 5,742 personnel received administrative penalties following the resolution of 5,002 cases.
The reported breakdown of major penalties included:
- 2,748 personnel suspended.
- 838 personnel reprimanded.
- 279 personnel demoted.
- 1,562 personnel dismissed.
Other penalties included salary forfeiture and the withdrawal of certain privileges.
The listed categories total 5,427 personnel, meaning the published breakdown does not separately identify every penalty imposed on the remaining personnel.
The difference between the number of administrative cases resolved and the number of personnel penalized is also worth noting. A case and a person are not necessarily the same unit of measurement.
Nevertheless, the figures demonstrate that the internal cleansing campaign has resulted in thousands of disciplinary actions, including penalties short of dismissal.
PNP Chief Nartatez Says No Officer Is Above the Rules
PNP Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. emphasized that every police officer must follow the same laws and standards the organization is sworn to enforce.
He said corruption, abuse of authority and other improper conduct have no place in the police service, regardless of an officer’s rank or position.
The campaign forms part of the PNP leadership’s broader effort to strengthen integrity and accountability.
The goal is to ensure that disciplinary rules are applied consistently and that personnel who violate their duties face appropriate administrative action.
The message also comes as the PNP continues to pursue its goal of clearing backlogs in administrative cases and improving its operational performance.
For police leadership, internal discipline is not simply a matter of removing personnel. It is also about establishing standards that encourage professionalism throughout the organization.
PNP’s Zero-Backlog Goal Extends Beyond Internal Discipline
The PNP is also pursuing a separate operational target: reducing its backlog of wanted individuals.
The police organization has cited approximately 300,000 fugitives remaining on its list as part of its broader zero-backlog objective.
Among the high-profile personalities being pursued is Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity.
Dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief under former president Rodrigo Duterte, faces allegations connected to the former administration’s anti-drug campaign.
The ICC proceedings and the PNP’s domestic efforts to locate wanted individuals are separate matters, and the allegations against Dela Rosa must be distinguished from a final judicial finding of guilt.
Nartatez has maintained that police personnel must enforce lawful orders without favoritism.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously examined this issue in its report, Nartatez Vows to Arrest Bato Dela Rosa Without Fear or Favor — Will His Former Police Chief Status Make the Manhunt More Difficult?.
The PNP’s zero-backlog target therefore covers a much broader challenge than its internal cleansing campaign: strengthening discipline within the organization while pursuing individuals wanted by law enforcement.
Separate Police Dismissal Cases Show the Continuing Accountability Challenge
The latest nationwide figures come amid other disciplinary cases involving police personnel.
On November 11, the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) announced the dismissal of two Manila police officers involved in a viral traffic incident along Taft Avenue.
The two officers, Patrolmen Algrene Ar-ar Mirano Alcause and Jerome Caballa Toledo of the Manila Police District, were found administratively liable for less grave irregularity in the performance of duty and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
The case stemmed from a February 5 incident involving a marked police vehicle that was seen in a viral video cutting off and blocking a motorist and running a red light.
NAPOLCOM said the officers’ admissions, the video and the vehicle’s preventive maintenance report established their administrative liability.
The officers’ dismissal was a separate NAPOLCOM action. The available reporting does not establish whether their cases were included in the PNP’s 1,562-person internal cleansing total.
The incident nevertheless illustrates why accountability must extend beyond internal announcements and policy statements. Complaints must be investigated, evidence assessed and disciplinary decisions implemented through the proper process.
Allegations Against Police Must Still Follow Due Process
The PNP’s internal cleansing campaign is intended to strengthen discipline, but the distinction between allegations and established administrative findings remains important.
An officer being investigated or relieved from a post is not automatically guilty of misconduct.
Administrative dismissal follows applicable procedures and must be supported by the evidence and findings required under the relevant rules.
A criminal case is also different from an administrative proceeding. An administrative penalty does not automatically mean that an officer has been convicted of a crime.
This distinction matters in a police organization whose credibility depends on both accountability and respect for due process.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously examined the importance of proper investigations in its report, Pasay Cop Faces NAPOLCOM Complaint Over Partner Abuse Claims—Then CCTV Footage Revealed More.
That separate case highlights why allegations involving police personnel must be assessed independently, with evidence and the opportunity to respond.
Police Accountability and Public Trust Remain Major Concerns
The latest disciplinary figures come as the PNP continues efforts to strengthen its relationship with the public.
A police force’s credibility depends not only on its ability to respond to crimes but also on whether citizens believe its personnel are accountable when they violate the law or abuse their authority.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously reported on an OCTA Research survey showing a 65% nationwide trust rating and a 63% satisfaction rating for the PNP in the second quarter of 2026.
The results represented improvements from the previous survey, but the figures also showed that public confidence remains an ongoing challenge.
Read the related report: PNP Trust Rating Climbs to 65% — But a Huge Metro Manila Gap Shows the Real Test Is Far From Over.
The latest dismissal figures may demonstrate that the organization is taking disciplinary action, but the real measure of progress will be whether the public experiences more professional, reliable and accountable police service.
PNP Also Faces Pressure to Improve Personnel Welfare and Performance
Internal discipline is only one part of police reform.
The organization also needs adequate training, equipment, resources and support for personnel who perform their duties properly.
The government has proposed additional funding and compensation measures for uniformed personnel, including a planned salary adjustment for 2027.
However, improved compensation must go hand in hand with stronger performance and accountability.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously reported on the proposed increase in PNP Personnel Set for 5% Pay Hike in 2027 — But the Bigger Boost May Be What Comes With It.
For the public, the expectation is straightforward: police officers must be equipped and supported to do their jobs, but they must also be held accountable when they fail to meet the standards of the service.
What Happens Next in the PNP Cleansing Campaign?
The PNP’s latest figures cover disciplinary actions taken through November 4, 2026. They do not establish that the campaign is finished.
The organization continues to pursue its internal accountability and zero-backlog goals.
The next challenge will be sustaining the effort, resolving pending administrative cases and ensuring that disciplinary decisions are implemented fairly and consistently.
The PNP will also need to demonstrate that its campaign produces improvements beyond the number of officers dismissed or suspended.
For communities, meaningful reform should be reflected in more professional police conduct, faster responses to complaints, transparent investigations and greater public confidence.
The dismissal of 1,562 personnel is a significant figure. But the long-term success of the campaign will depend on whether the institution can prevent misconduct, not simply punish it after it happens.
The PNP has removed more than 1,500 personnel and penalized thousands more. But the biggest test is still ahead: Can the police force turn its cleansing campaign into lasting reform—and finally convince Filipinos that accountability applies to every officer, regardless of rank or position?
