FIFTY-TWO policemen were arrested in 2019 over their alleged illegal activities, according to the Philippine National Police Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group.
IMEG spokesperson Captain Mae Ann Cunanan said this was 18 percent more than the 44 officers who were arrested in 2018.
The top two regions with the highest number of arrested officers were the National Capital Region with 27 and Central Luzon with five.
The top three crimes committed by these erring officers were robbery-extortion, involvement in illegal drugs and illegal gambling.
Of the 52 arrested in 2019, Cunanan said seven were Police Commissioned Officers. The rest are Police Non-Commissioned Officers.
She attributed the increase in arrests to the growing awareness among police officers of the need to monitor their ranks.
“Aware na ‘yung public na existing na ‘yung IMEG. Alam na nila kung saan sila magsusumbong, alam na rin nila kung ano ‘yung mga dapat nilang isumbong at saka aware na sila kung ano ‘yung masamang ginagawa ng pulis,” she said.
More reports of policemen getting involved in illegal gambling have reached their office after PNP Chief Archie Gamboa issued a directive against the crime.
"Ngayon tumaas 'yung rate noong sumbong about illegal gambling. Hindi naman sa nag-shift kami kung di 'yun ang pinakaraming sumbong ngayon... ang illegal gambling," Cunanan said.
Cunanan noted that many policemen were still involved in illegal activities despite their higher salaries.
“Doon naman sa maraming nahuhuli siguro meron pa rin talagang, hindi nagbabase sa salary yan eh, kung minsan nasa ugali na rin talaga yan,” she said. (SunStar Philippines)