MANILA - Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Monday said he has dismissed 352 police officers from the service since he assumed his role as head of the PNP.

In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Dela Rosa said he sacked police officers with cases related to illegal drugs, grave misconduct, absence without leave and extortion.

"I have already dismissed 352 policemen for various offenses. 167 ay drug related, 155 others are kidnapping, murder, extortion, various offenses. Basta ang total 352,” he said.

According to data released by the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management, from 2016 to 2017, 167 police personnel have been dismissed with cases related to illegal drugs.

Among the 167, 146 tested positive for illegal drug use while 21 were involved in illegal drugs operations.

Eight police had kidnapping cases, 22 were involved in murder, one cap had a rape case, 15 were caught involved in robbery/ extortion and and one in graft/malversation.

Nine police were found to have violated human rights. Of this, five had homicide cases, three were involved in illegal arrest, illegal detention and incriminatory machination and one parricide.

Meanwhile, 72 police were charged for being AWOL.

Fifty seven were charged with grave offenses such as immorality, violation of BP 22, dishonesty and estafa.

Dela Rosa said there 329 pending cases for various police offenses they need to be investigated.

“Meron pang pending for various offenses na 329, ongoing pa iyon, iniimbestigahan. Pending meaning, either tapos na ang investigation, pirma ko na lang ang kulang, or ongoing na ang investigation. Basta 329 more new cases,” he said.

“Sa 329 alam ko meron nang senior supt dito. City Director ng Iloilo, city director ng Iloilo City, napabayaan niya yung nag-proliferate ng husto yung drug problem doon. Si Odicta, pinabayaan na nag-lording over sa drugs doon.”

“Mahirap pangalanan ito, hindi ako ang magdi-dismiss, Malacañang mag-dismiss nito,” he added.