THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) warned its personnel against taking part in any financial investment schemes that promise hefty returns such as the billion-peso Police Paluwagan Movement (PPM), which is allegedly backed by police officers.

"I have long warned my officers, men and women of Davao City Police Office to be wary of 'good to be true' deals. There are enough pyramiding scams in the past that ruined families and friendships that should serve as lesson and warning to all," DCPO Director Alexander Tagum said Tuesday, March 26.

Last month, Tagum released a memorandum to his cops cautioning them against joining Kabus Padatuon (Kapa) investment scheme and now PPM, which is operating in Soccsksargen (Region 12), particularly in General Santos City, and directed all his personnel not to engage in Kapa and other pyramiding scams.

Asked whether they have monitored policemen under DCPO who are members of alleged investment scams, Tagum said, "Definitely none. That Paluwagan scam has not reached our doorstep."

Four high-ranking police officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Soccsksargen were relieved from their posts after they were implicated in the scam.

Those relieved effective March 25 included Colonel Raul Supiter, director of General Santos City Police Office, and Colonel Manuel Lukban, chief of the directorial staff of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in Soccsksargen.

The order to relieve them came in a special order dated March 25 from the PNP headquarters signed by Police Major General Lyndon Cubos, director for Personnel and Records Management, in adherence to the order of PNP chief Oscar Albayalde.

This came after alleged victims of PPM sought Albayalde's help after they were duped by an investment scam allegedly headed by police officers.

Based on a previous statement issued by the Soccsksargen police, this information came to their attention after their office received a series of complaints on social media and text messages against an investment scam operating in Region 12 that victimizes police officers and other individuals.

It added that the subject of the complaint was PPM, which allegedly entices uniformed personnel to invest for a return of investment of 60 to 120 percent.

The Regional Investigation and Detective Division (RIDMD) 12 has been directed to start its investigation regarding the alleged investment scam while the victims are encouraged to step forward and lodge a formal complaint to hold the responsible individuals.