PNP audits HPG amid P7-M bribe case vs former exec
FILE PHOTO / Official Facebook page of the HPG Headquarters
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) began stricter auditing of the financial transactions of its Highway Patrol Group (HPG) after one of the unit’s former officials was administratively charged for allegedly accepting P7 million in bribes.
Ex-HPG Special Operations Division chief Col. Rommel Estolano is being accused by his former subordinates before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) of accepting bribes from a suspect they arrested in Parañaque City last June.
“To prevent similar incidents, the PNP has begun enforcing stricter auditing of financial transactions and operational clearances within the HPG, alongside enhanced anti-corruption safeguards and closer monitoring of active personnel,” the agency said in a statement on Friday.
READ: Ex-HPG official faces administrative case over alleged P7-M bribe
On Thursday, the Napolcom formally charged Estolano for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer over the alleged incident.
“We are fully cooperating with NAPOLCOM in their administrative proceedings. The PNP is providing all necessary records and assistance to ensure the case is resolved fairly and swiftly,” PNP acting chief, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement on Friday.
“The PNP leadership wants to make it clear: we do not condone corruption in any form. We will continue to work closely with oversight agencies like Napolcom to hold erring officers accountable and to reinforce the principle that public service is a public trust,” he added.
The complainants claimed that Estolano ordered them to drop the case against the arrested suspect, but when they refused, he accused them of grave misconduct, malfeasance, and arbitrary detention before the Ombudsman.
Estolano has since been relieved and placed on floating status.
In his defense, he stated that he filed the complaint against Orale and the other HPG personnel because, among other things, they had enforced an arrest warrant previously issued by a Pasay Court against Javier, even though he had already posted bail. /mr
