A HIGH-RANKING police official reminded aspiring police against individuals asking payment for recruitment following the arrest of a former cop for swindling 170 supposed applicants.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao Director (RD) Police Brigadier General Benjamin Silo Jr. confirmed to the media in a press conference on Friday evening, March 11, the arrest of former Police Officer 2 (PO2) Jenlee Corpuz in Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City on Friday afternoon.
The operation was conducted after two of the supposed victims lodged a complaint against the said activity through the Regional Recruitment and Selection Unit-Davao Region which immediately requested validation.
According to Silo, Corpuz, who entered the service in 2015, was dismissed in 2018 due to 11 counts of grave misconduct and for misappropriation or failure to account for the drug buy-bust money.
He said the 32-year-old suspect's modus was to collect P75,000 from each of the applicants through their middleman with the promise that they would be included in the Philippine National Police (PNP) quota without undergoing the necessary recruitment procedures.
He added that Corpuz pretended to be active in the service with the rank of police lieutenant and claimed to have connections in the police recruitment.
Most of the targeted applicants are those who failed during the 2021 recruitment process.
If found guilty, Corpuz will be charged in violation of Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code for swindling. However, charges against her might add up once other victims would file their respective complaints against her.
"If we can have more than five victims, we can elevate the case for syndicated estafa. It depends on the number of victims that are willing to file charges," Silo said.
He said they are still currently investigating two other people involved in this activity.
Silo said no current police official is involved, based on their initial findings.
Meanwhile, the PRO official reminded the public that the PNP is strict in recruiting its personnel and that there is no shortcut application.
He urged the public to report individuals asking for payment for recruitment.
"I'm warning the public, particularly the applicants for membership in the Philippine National Police not to entertain these kinds of people," Silo said.