PNP validating involvement of over 300 cops in illegal drug trade

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is validating the involvement of more than 300 police officers in the illegal drug trade.

“Ang for active and for validation ay 391 [391 active police officers included in the watchlist are for validation.] 441 are already inactive and separated from police service,” PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said in a press briefing.

Albayalde noted that more than 800 police officers were included in the drug watchlist of President Rodrigo Duterte from July 2016 to August 2019.

The PNP chief added that the agency’s Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group and other counter-intelligence divisions in the different regions are now probing into these rogue police officers.

Albayalde also said a watchlist by the PNP counter-intelligence unit has recorded 727 police officers with suspected links to illegal drugs.  /muf