THE leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered an intensified drive against policemen involved in the illegal drug trade.
PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) spokesperson Roque Medeguia said Monday the number of policemen who were arrested for taking part in the lucrative trade jumped to nine in January-May from four in the same period last year.
The report prompted Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr. to order the identification and apprehension of the erring policemen through better intelligence operation.
“There are many ways that policemen get involved in illegal drugs, but our internal cleansing of the PNP is now stricter, particularly those who sell illegal drugs,” Merdegia said.
He said policemen will be slapped with criminal and administrative cases that can lead to dismissal from the service.
Merdeguia said they already have a list of commissioned and non-commissioned police officers assigned not only in the National Capital Region but from all the provinces in the country allegedly involved in illegal drugs activities.
“The PNP leadership does not choose who to arrest. From the lowest PO1 (Police Officer 1) to the highest ranking officer, we go after them,” he said.
The police official urged the public to reach them for any reports on suspected involvement of policemen in illegal drug activities through the hotline 2920 or 117.
“We call on the public to report cases of policemen involved in illegal drugs or coddling drug syndicates to us, please do not hesitate to do so,” Merdegia said. (Sunnex)