More than 800 policemen are being investigated for their alleged involvement in various illegal activities, mostly robbery and extortion, the Philippine National Police-Counter-Intelligence Task Force said yesterday.
Senior Supt. Chiquito Malayo, CITF commander, said the complaints are based on calls and text messages they have received through their hotline numbers.
“We are really thankful especially to the media because you have been repeatedly airing our hotline numbers. Through this, we were able to received 5,000 text messages so far,” said Malayo.
The CITF was created after the PNP-Anti-Illegal Drugs Group was dissolved due to the alleged involvement of its personnel in the kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo.
Malayo said they have been receiving complaints nationwide and these helped them establish more than 800 names of erring policemen. “These are all subject of the follow-up, all for validation,” said Malayo.
He said most of the policemen subjected to complaints are from Metro Manila and majority of the complaints they have received are related to extortion.
However, the CITF’s operations are dependent on the willingness of the complainants to help the police through entrapment operations.
A few days ago, four Makati City police intelligence operatives were arrested for kidnapping and extortion in an entrapment operation participated in by the victims.
In some cases, the CITF is carrying out operations to catch the erring policemen redhanded.
“I hope that the citizens will continue helping us by sending us reports. We really need reports coming from the public for successful operations,” said Malayo.
A number of policemen have been arrested or sacked from their posts. The highest were two police colonels linked to illegal numbers games protection racket in Central Visayas. (Aaron B. Recuenco)