7 cops relieved over ‘kickbacks’ from rent for trainees’ lodging

Seven police officers have been relieved from their posts after they were accused of demanding “kickbacks” from providers of temporary lodging for policemen undergoing field training in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

At a press briefing held in Camp Crame on Monday, a copy of the relief order shared by Philippine National Police Training Service director Brig. Gen. Rolindo Suguilon showed that the implicated officers were a colonel, a major, a lieutenant, a master sergeant and three patrolmen. They were assigned to the Regional Special Training Unit (RSTU) in CAR.

Suguilon did not identify the seven police officers or explain their respective roles in the alleged scheme. The order for their relief was dated April 19 and took effect on the same day.

Origin of allegation

“We have a zero tolerance policy for all forms of irregularities committed by our personnel … We’ve already sent a team of investigators,” Suguilon said.

He explained that the relief order was in response to a social media post that went viral over the weekend. A certain Greafin Bell Valdez-Olsim Maranes-Dodon claimed on April 17 that some RSTU CAR officials were demanding “kickbacks” from providers of the required billeting areas— or temporary housing or barracks—for the police trainees.

The post alleged that the providers were passing on the kickback of P500 per trainee to the police trainees themselves, resulting in a corresponding increase in the rental fees ranging between P2,500 to P3,500.

Suguilon, who said he was made aware of the post on April 18, said that the PNP would respond to all reports, “whether anonymous or fictitious.”

“This is part of maintaining integrity in the PNP service, especially in the training we’re handling. Nothing will be lost by paying attention to these claims. It may or may not have happened,” he added.

Suguilon said the most recent field training program conducted at the RSTU CAR was completed in December.