A POLICE officer in Talisay City, Cebu, has been removed from his post after offering his own money as a reward for the surrender of suspected criminals.
The officer offered a prize of up to P5,000 in a social media video for anyone who turned in drug users, pushers, or unregistered firearms. National police leadership quickly disavowed the act, calling it a “personal initiative” and not a standard police procedure. An investigation is underway.
Why would offering a personal cash reward for turning in suspected criminals be grounds for removal and a formal investigation?
The officer’s offer
In a social media post, the police officer, whose name the Philippine National Police (PNP) withheld, created what he called a “bring me” game. He offered money ranging from P2,000 to P5,000 to anyone who would turn in drug users and pushers or unregistered firearms to the police office. Philippine National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño confirmed it was a personal initiative posted on the officer’s personal account.
The official response
The PNP leadership in Manila ordered an immediate investigation. In a press conference, PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the act is “not part of the standard police operational procedures.” He ordered the PNP-Anti Cybercrime Group (ACG) and the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) to handle the case. Tuaño said the PNP, as an organization, had nothing to do with the officer’s actions.
Investigation
Tuaño said the officer’s social media account and the post were taken down. However, the Anti-Cybercrime Group preserved the video as evidence.
“Napa-take down na ang account at ang post pero na preserve ng ating ACG ang video para sa investigation para kung ano ang karapat-dapat isampa na kaso laban sa kanya,” said Tuaño.
(The account and the post have been taken down, but our ACG preserved the video for the investigation to determine what appropriate case should be filed against him.)
The problem with personal bounties
The officer’s removal highlights the conflict between official police protocols and unsanctioned personal actions. Offering personal money creates a bounty system that is not part of established procedure.
Such actions could encourage vigilantism, where citizens may attempt to detain people themselves rather than report information to police. It also raises legal and ethical concerns, including the potential for false accusations motivated by a cash reward. This method bypasses formal investigative work, such as securing warrants and establishing probable cause.
What happens next
The officer has been “relieved from post,” which means he was removed from his current assignment in Talisay City. He is reassigned pending the outcome of the investigation. The DIDM and ACG investigation will determine if he violated police regulations or committed any crimes, which could lead to administrative penalties or criminal charges. / TPM / SUNSTAR PHILIPPINES