PNP chief orders audit over rent kickbacks scheme
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Wednesday ordered a sweeping audit of all regional police training units nationwide following allegations that police trainees in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were forced to shoulder part of their superiors’ housing expenses through a rent “kickback” scheme.
“I have ordered a mandatory audit of all lease agreements involving trainees,” Nartatez said in a statement. “Every cent must be transparent and documented. If you are found guilty of squeezing money from our recruits, you are out of the service immediately.”
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Anti-Cybercrime Group, along with the Directorate for Education and Training, were tasked to determine whether the rent kickback scheme was also being done in other PNP regional special training units (RSTU).
They will also gather evidence for the possible filing of criminal and administrative cases against those involved in the illegal activity. Seven RSTU-CAR police officials were earlier relieved over the alleged kickback scheme.
Period covered
The PNP’s initial findings revealed supposedly irregular lease agreements between 2023 and 2025. Although trainees were each charged up to P3,000 monthly for temporary housing, they were forced to pay an additional P600, allegedly to cover the rent for their superior officers’ housing.
A report from the PNP Training Service dated April 19 noted that while the last batch of affected trainees graduated in the middle of last year, records suggested the practice may still be ongoing.
“We want to give the trainees and the public the assurance that this practice is illegal,” Nartatez said.
“Our move to check and review all our training units nationwide will give them peace of mind that we will never tolerate any form of wrongdoings,” he added.
