PNP task force has received complaints even against star-rank officers

PNP’s Counter-intelligence Task Force (CITF) commander Senior Supt. Jose Chiquito Malayo. (Photo by JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net)

The Philippine National Police’s task force against bad cops has been receiving complaints against policemen as high as star-rank officers allegedly involved in illegal drugs, illegal gambling, kidnapping, and other criminal activities.

Senior Supt. Jose Chiquito Malayo, commander of the PNP Counter-intelligence Task Force (CITF), said on Wednesday his office has received complaints against officers as high as chief superintendents involved in different criminal activities.

A police chief superintendent is equivalent in rank to an Army brigadier general.

But still, majority of the complaints are against noncommissioned officers, or ranks of senior police officer 4 and below, said Malayo.

A senior police officer 4 is equivalent in rank to an Army senior master sergeant, the highest noncommissioned officer.

“Mayroon na pong mga star-rank, kasama na illegal gambling complaints, kidnapping, illegal drugs, reported to the populace by us. But then again we have to verify the information first,” Malayo told reporters in an interview at Camp Crame.

(“There are some of star-rank that are included in illegal gambling complaints, kidnapping, illegal drugs, reported to the populace by us. But then again we have to verify the information first.”)

Malayo assured the public that the task force wuld not give special treatment to high-ranking PNP officers caught engaging in unlawful activities.

“Wala naman pong sinasabi si (PNP chief Director General Ronald de la Rosa) na hanggang ganitong ranggo lang. Ang sinasabi niya lahat ng PNP members na involved sa illegal act,” Malayo said.

(“PNP chief Director General Ronald de la Rosa didn’t specify a limit to the rank. What he said was to include all PNP members involved in illegal acts.”)

PNP created the task force against scalawags in uniform after the kidnapping-slay of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo in October 2016.

Unscrupulous members of the now defunct PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) allegedly masterminded the kidnapping and killing of Jee inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

The CITF is now occupying the former headquarters of the AIDG in Crame. /atm