Facebook clue for lifestyle check on cops in C. Visayas

CEBU CITY—The social networking site Facebook holds an enormous amount of information about its more than a billion users worldwide, including what authorities say could be leads to the lifestyles of police officers and their families in the Philippines.

Following a series of crimes involving policemen and questions on the integrity of the highest-ranking officer of the Philippine National Police, a lifestyle check has been ordered on all uniformed personnel of the PNP.

This could mean a search for clues on Facebook, the highly popular social networking site, according to Chief Supt. Prudencio Tom Banas, PNP director for Central Visayas.

The region has 8,550 policemen and Banas said a check on Facebook for photos or videos could provide clues on the lifestyles of each of them.

Policemen in the region have decided to submit themselves to the lifestyle check amid a continuing slide in the popularity rating of the PNP brought about by scandals in the police force, Banas said.

He said the PNP had directed different police divisions to conduct the lifestyle check more thoroughly, especially on officers and men who are “guilty of ostentatious display of wealth.”

Those found with ill-gotten wealth would be charged, Banas said.

“If a child of a PNP personnel posts on his [Facebook] account a luxurious car, that can be looked into,” said Banas. “It has to be carefully investigated to find out if the car is really owned by the family,” he said.

He asked the public and members of the media to help the PNP monitor the lifestyles of policemen in Central Visayas.

If there are suspicions that a police officer’s lifestyle is beyond his income, Banas said, the public should report it immediately to start an investigation.

Banas said the regional police force had agreed to the lifestyle check and remained loyal to the PNP chief, Director General Alan Purisima, who now faces graft and plunder charges.

A former PNP chief, Panfilo Lacson, has called on Purisima to quit out of “delicadeza,” saying his leadership, or lack of it, is dragging the national police force down.

Rafael Alunan, former head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, also called on Purisima to take a leave of absence as he tries to answer the allegations against him.