Cops’ arrests spark heightened PNP internal cleansing
Two police officers were arrested in Metro Manila and Mindanao over rape and domestic abuse charges, prompting the Philippine National Police to intensify its internal cleansing drive.
One of the arrested officers, a police master sergeant assigned to the Presidential Security and Protection Group, was apprehended in Quezon City on June 20.
The second officer, a patrolman assigned to the Police Regional Office 11 Personnel Holding and Accounting Section, was arrested in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, on the same day.
In a statement on Sunday, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed concerned units to initiate appropriate administrative proceedings in line with PNP rules and regulations.
“Let these simultaneous arrests serve as a stern warning that our badge and our uniform will never be a shield against the law,” said Nartatez.
He added the PNP “will aggressively hunt down anyone within our ranks who believes they can evade accountability.”
The arrest in Quezon City was carried out by operatives of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and other units.
The operation was meant to serve a warrant issued by the Taguig City Regional Trial Court Branch 267 for rape under Article 266-A of the Revised Penal Code.
He was already under monitoring for alleged illegal drug use, and records check later revealed an outstanding rape warrant.
This led to his arrest, with the court not recommending bail.
In a separate operation, the cop arrested in Davao del Norte faces complaints filed by his wife under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act.
The cases involve allegations of physical harm and psychological and emotional abuse.
Authorities served warrants under Republic Act No. 9262 for psychological abuse, with bail set at P72,000, and for slight physical injuries, with bail set at P6,000.
Nartatez ordered IMEG and other offices to further strengthen monitoring of personnel linked to criminal activity, domestic violence complaints and illegal drug use.
“We are sending a clear message to the public that we will not tolerate any scalawags, and we will actively weed out them out in the interest of integrity and trust in the police organization,” he said.
