MARAWI - Philippine National Police chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Thursday said there is nothing wrong with re-assigning erring police officers from Mandaluyong City to Marawi.

"Ayaw ba nila na madagdagan sila ng tao dito? Give them a chance to reform themselves. I don't think may masama doon," Dela Rosa told reporters.

• Pulis na 'nang-yantok', nagbabantay na ngayon sa Marawi

Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesman of the provincial crisis management committee, earlier questioned why the PNP leadership reassigned two Mandaluyong cops to Marawi after they were caught on video hitting civilians with wooden sticks for violating a curfew.

Adiong said erring cops should be sued with administrative case.
"What they need is to face accountability not temporary punishment. It's quite offensive to treat us like trash bin for abusive cops," Adiong said in a series of tweets.

"Hindi po tayo dito basurahan para sa mga abusado at tiwaling pulis ng Metro Manila."

The PNP chief said Marawi is not being singled out as the place of redeployment for policemen who abuse their power.

"'Yung mga nagkakamali dito na mga pulis na may derogatory reports, andun din sa Cordillera, sa Abra," Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said re-assigning complacent policemen to conflict zones is both punitive and rehabilitative.

"Try nila maging abusive dito (Marawi), kapwa nila pulis ang magyantok sa kanila," he said.