By Martin A. Sadongdong
Sixty erring policemen were arrested by the Philippine National Police-Counterintelligence Task Force as part of the PNP’s internal cleansing program.
Citing a report from the PNP-CITF, Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, PNP spokesperson, said that the rogue cops were arrested in 24 separate operations based on the 10,246 complaints and information they received since Feb. 6, 2017.
Of the 10,246 complaints and information received by the PNP-CITF, Bulalacao said a total of 1,475 were processed and acted upon “thru discreet investigation, case build-up, validation, and direct police intervention.”
“Among complaints and reports received were 262 extortions, 238 drug-related, six kidnapping, 75 ‘hulidap,’ 161 illegal gambling, 19 physical abuse, four gun-running, 13 illegal logging, 309 protection racket, nine for unexplained wealth, and 383 other irregularities,” he said.
The PNP-CITF also arrested one personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and 19 civilians in the 24 operations.
“In addition, CITF investigations led to the filing of administrative cases before the Internal Affairs Service against 29 police personnel, and criminal charges in court against 65 other errant personnel,” he said.
Bulalacao said Metro Manila or the National Capital Region had the highest number of reports and complaints with 471, followed by Region 4-A with 189, Central Luzon with 128, and Central Visayas with 84.