5 cops axed over ‘unscrupulous’ activities

MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday stressed that it will be unforgiving towards rogue cops as it continues to implement cleansing within its ranks.

This, after PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde ordered the relief of five police officers from their posts due to involvement in various unscrupulous activities.

Tayabas City police chief, Lt. Col. Mark Joseph Laygo and his subordinates, Cpl. Lonald Sumalpong and Patrolman Robert Legaspi, were relieved due to their involvement in the questionable operation that resulted in the death of two persons, including the son of Sariaya, Quezon Mayor Marcelo Gayeta last March 14.

He added that the Tayabas City Prosecutor's Office has upheld the continuous restrictive custody of the three PNP personnel in Camp Dolor, Candelaria, Quezon until further ordered by the court.

Albayalde also directed the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to determine if there is negligence or deliberate misconduct in law enforcement operations.

“We are investigating it. In fact, the investigation does not only cover the incident in Tayabas (Quezon) but also in whole region, in the whole country,” Albayalde said, in response to criticisms that the Tayabas operation possibly reflect how some erring policemen would either plant evidence or make up reports to justify wrongdoings in the conduct of police operations.

The PNP chief also directed the Police Regional Office 12 to expedite the investigation of those involved in the investment scam that has victimized many personnel in the region.

Col. Manuel Lukban, chief of the PRO-12 directorial staff and General Santos City police director, Col. Raul Supiter, were ordered transferred effective Monday to the police holding and accounting unit of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM).

Meanwhile, Albayalde announced the arrest of Capt. Gerry Manuel Revecho, chief of the ID Production Section of the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) for alleged irregularities.

Revecho was arrested in an entrapment operation on Friday after he allegedly received PHP20,000 from a Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF) agent, who posed as representative of a security agency in exchange for the expedited processing of ID cards of 32 security guards.

“I would like to mention also that the PNP internal cleansing campaign is being vigorously pursued as well in front-line service units especially those that cater to regulatory functions of the PNP,” Albayalde said.

Revecho will face criminal charges for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Anti-Red Tape Act and also face administrative cases for his actions.

“Internal cleansing is not a product but a process, and it will continue on as a normal command function to ensure that the good name of the PNP is not tarnished by the unclean actions of a few, similar to what we uncovered recently in the Drug Enforcement Units of Eastern Police District and Pasay City Police Station,” Albayalde told reporters.

The PNP chief also warned all other directors, commanders, and chiefs of units and offices to properly and constantly supervise their personnel to maintain discipline and order within their ranks and ensure their obedience to all lawful orders, policies, rules and regulations.

"This is a stern warning to all PNP personnel. We will be adding more teeth to our campaign against those rouges and scalawags among our ranks. We will not hesitate to relieve any official from their posts should any incident like this extortion and robbery case would happen again," Albayalde concluded. (PNA)


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