Pimentel: Gov’t needs tougher PNP watchdog

By Rio N. Araja

THE Philippines needs a new “hard-hitting independent watchdog” against rampant police corruption and misconduct, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel on Sunday said.

“The illegal drug trade in particular is clearly having a monstrous corruptive influence on police officers, and we must counteract this,” he said. “Our sense is, we need a tougher watchdog that can swiftly carry out administrative and criminal investigations of police wrongdoing without fear or favor.”

Pimentel is the vice chairperson of the good government and public accountability committee.

Recent House and Senate inquiries have put a spotlight on the alleged complicity of police officers in drug trafficking, including the theft of confiscated shabu supplies that are sold for cash and recycled back into the market.

At least 49 senior and junior officers,

Police buy-bust yields P25.8m in illegal drugs

including a general and five colonels, have been implicated in the alleged whitewash of unlawful and unethical police actions during a controversial P6.7-billion shabu bust in Manila.

Pimentel said Congress must pass new legislation that would totally detach the Internal Affairs Service from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“We should separate the IAS from the PNP, and put the service directly under the control of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government,” he said.

“This way, the IAS can forcefully and freely operate without getting swayed by any consideration of the officers involved,” he noted.

AID FOR BOCAUE RESIDENTS.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva led the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) for more than 2,000 residents of Bocaue, Bulacan on Sunday. The payout coincides with the commemoration of the third death anniversary of Senator Villanueva’s

AGENTS of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) seized P25.8 million worth of shabu from two high-value targets in a buy-bust in Caloocan City over the weekend.

In a report on Sunday, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo said suspects Edgardo Vargas, 42, and Lenard Buenaventura, 20, were arrested in Barangay 160 by combined teams from the Caloocan City and Valenzuela City police stations and 3rd Mobile Force Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion.

The suspects yielded 3,800 grams of shabu and a .32 caliber with live ammunition.

“Patuloy lang tayo sa mga pinaigting na operasyon laban sa iligal na droga at iba pang krimen sa Metro Manila. Pagtutulungan po ng bawat kapulisan na mapanatiling tahimik at ligtas ang ating rehiyon sa anumang oras at pagkakataon (We will continue with intensified operations against illegal drugs and other crimes in Metro Manila. The police force will always try to keep our region quiet and safe at all times),” Okubo said in a statement.

In Navotas City, agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested three suspects for selling suspected smuggled seafood products worth P1.4 million.

Cashiers Alma Aden, 47, and Cheryl Elizalde, 38; and 22-year-old delivery staff Tito Ybañez Jr. were caught in the act of selling “pampano” but upon verification, the suspects failed to show pertinent documents authorizing them to sell, according to another statement from CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr.