The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched an aggressive internal investigation to root out personnel suspected of providing protection to illegal gambling syndicates and other criminal enterprises.
The intensified monitoring comes in the wake of the relief and restrictive custody of a police major from the Negros Island Region, who is currently under investigation for his alleged ties to unauthorized online “sabong” (cockfighting) activities.
In a stern warning issued on Tuesday, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. compared corrupt personnel to pests destroying the institution from within:
“This kind of police officer is like a termite that threatens to destroy what we have built in the PNP. We will not allow that to happen and will exhaust all necessary measures to identify them and hold them accountable.”
To streamline the crackdown, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has been mandated to collaborate closely with the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG). This partnership aims to sharpen intelligence gathering and build airtight cases against erring officers.
Nartatez further emphasized the importance of leadership accountability, reminding all police commanders that the principle of command responsibility remains in full effect.
He warned that supervisors would be held liable if their subordinates are found to be involved in illicit acts under their watch.
The PNP Chief committed to overseeing the investigation personally to ensure that both criminal and administrative charges are pursued swiftly, while strictly adhering to the requirements of due process.