91 cops arrested, 7 killed during counter-intelligence ops

A TOTAL of 91 police personnel were arrested and charged while seven others were killed over the past 19 months of crusade against erring cops, a police official said.

Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF) commander Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr. said since February 3, 2017, when the CITF was launched, seven cops were killed after allegedly fighting it out to the police during counter-intelligence operations.

Among those who were killed were Senior Inspector Raymond Hortezuela who was killed in CITF operation in Mandaue City, Cebu, Police Officer (PO) 2 Gemmo Meneses who was killed by police operatives in Morong, Rizal, PO3 Marco Hashim Alegre who was killed in a drug bust in Occidental Mindoro and PO2 Ian Rey Abitona who was killed in Infanta Quezon.

The four said police personnel who were killed since Caramat took office on May were all allegedly involved in illegal drugs transactions.

Caramat said the arrested personnel were slapped with administrative and criminal charges which may result for their dismissal from the service.

Meanwhile, Caramat said the CITF is looking over 13,481 complaints involving at least 200 uniformed and civilian police personnel involved in illegal activities including extortion.

He however urged the public to report report abuse, irregularities and anomalies involving PNP personnel through the CITF 24/7 Text and Call hotlines: 0998-970-2286 and 09995-795-2569 and thru ‘Counter Intelligence Task Force’ (@PNPCITF) on Facebook Messenger.

Meanwhile, PNP chief Oscar Albayalde said since July 2016, when the government launched its war on drugs, a total of 7,431 PNP Personnel have been meted disciplinary penalties for administrative offenses.

Of which, 2,169 personnel were dismissed from the service, 4133 were suspended, 436 were demoted, 464 were reprimanded, 30 were restricted to quarters, 48 were meted with witheld privileges and 151 had forfeited salary.

Albayalde said the relentless and chilling operations against police scalawags will be the hallmark and will remain at top of his priority during his leadership.

“We will also be resolute in our strong desire to achieve an organizational culture where professionalism and integrity pervade and endure at all times. And our internal cleansing program will not spare anyone,” he said.

“As we have promised, this internal cleansing program will continue without let-up until we completely achieve our desire for a highly professional and disciplined police force that truly deserves the trust and support of the people,” he added.

The PNP has repeatedly been on the bad light since they spearheaded the war on drugs as they allegedly used the campaign for their own advantage particularly for corruption.

One of the biggest blow on the organization was the killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo in October 2016.

Jee’s killing was allegedly perpetrated by the members of the dismantled Police Drug Enforcement Unit. He was strangled to death inside a vehicle parked inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame. (SunStar Philippines)