PNP names new CITF chief to lead internal cleansing campaign

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde has assigned former Bulacan Sr. Supt. Romeo Caramat to the Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF), replacing Sr. Supt. Chiquito Malayo.

Caramat, who was also designated as the chief of staff of the Intelligence Group, is expected to lead the police’s internal cleansing campaign.

The CITF was formed last year to run after rogue and erring policemen.

READ: PNP counter-intel task force nabs 60 rogue cops

Albayalde said the appointment of Caramat, whom he described as one of his trusted men, would boost the PNP’s fight against rogue cops.

“We really have to strengthen ang counterintelligence, this is one factor sa internal cleansing,” the police chief said in an interview at the sidelines of the first command conference at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Bicutan.

“We have to get the names and evidence of these people na di gumagawa ng tama sa hanay. This is a way to cleanse our ranks. One of the solutions pa ito,” he added.

Deaths of suspected drug criminals have piled up in Bulacan under Caramat. In April, 13 drug suspects were killed in a series of police operations in various towns in the province. /ee

READ: Police kill 5 in Bulacan as drug war heats up anew