KALIBO, Aklan – Shape up or face consequences. This was the warning the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) issued as it intensified its campaign against rogue police officers.
APPO head Colonel Esmeraldo Osia Jr. said there is a special unit that focuses on monitoring scalawag officers in the APPO.
On June 13, the Philippine National Police (PNP) launched the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) headed by Colonel Romeo Caramat.
The IMEG will replace the Counter-Intelligence Task Force, the anti-scalawag police unit during senator-elect Ronald dela Rosa’s stint as PNP chief.
IMEG will gather information and conduct operations against police officers suspected to be involved in illegal activities.
The ongoing “internal cleansing” in the APPO is part of PNP’s goal to gain and strengthen the trust of the public.
“Internal cleansing” is the arrest and prosecution of policemen found to be engaged in unlawful activities like illegal arrest, illegal detention, hulidap, areglo, recycling of confiscated drugs, and planting of evidence, among others.
Osia is urging the public to report the misdoings of police personnel under his watch.
“We will spare no one. Their days are numbered,” said Osia. “Huwag mag-atubili na i-report ang mga pulis scalawags sa ating pamunuan na involved sa extortion, illegal drugs at ibang mga corruption para malinis ang hanay ng ating kapulisan.”
He added that he will not tolerate rogue cops in uniform to tarnish the image of the PNP.
“Itong special unit is dead serious to go after erring policemen. Sa mga kapulisan, huwag tahakin ang maling landas at katiwalaan dahil may kalalagyan kayo,” Osia added./PN
