By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified its intelligence monitoring and investigations to identify police personnel allegedly protecting illegal gambling operations and other illicit activities.
The move follows the relief of a police major in the Negros Island Region, who has been placed under restrictive custody over alleged involvement in online “sabong” (cockfighting) operations.
“This kind of police officer is like a termite that threatens to destroy what we have built in the PNP. We will not allow that to happen and will exhaust all necessary measures to identify them and hold them accountable,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement Tuesday.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has been directed to coordinate with the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) to strengthen intelligence and information-gathering efforts against erring personnel.
Nartatez also ordered police commanders to ensure strict supervision of their subordinates, warning that the principle of command responsibility will be enforced if any personnel are found involved in illegal activities.
Nartatez added he will personally monitor the progress of the investigation to ensure that criminal and administrative charges are filed while upholding due process. (PNA)
