By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — As part of its internal cleansing program, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday formally activated the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) as the primary unit for information gathering and conduct of offensive operations against erring police personnel.
PNP Chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, said the newly-formed enforcement group replaces the two-year-old Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF), designed to conduct intelligence build-up and law enforcement operations against PNP personnel who are involved in illegal activities, such as drug and human trafficking, financial crimes, cybercrime, malversation, graft and corrupt practices, and security violations.
“I am glad to note that this is our way of institutionalizing our efforts against rogue cops and cleansing our ranks in order to fulfill our duty with all honesty, honor and integrity,” Albayalde told reporters.
He said the commander of the now-defunct CITF, Col. Romeo Caramat, will serve as the functional authority of the group with 306 uniformed personnel, consisting of 55 commissioned officers and 251 non-commissioned officers.
Caramat, a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s Tanglaw Diwa Class of 1992, is the officer-in-charge of IMEG, while Lt. Col. Ariel Red is deputy group commander for administration.
Albayalde said the 72-man company from the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) will continue to provide tactical support to the newly-established unit.
“We reiterate that police personnel who will be assigned or detailed at the IMEG should pass the rigorous background investigation and screening process, including neuropsychiatric examination, and should be graduates of an intelligence course or seminar,” Albayalde said.
“As what I promised when I assumed my post that the centerpiece of my administration is to install organizational and internal reform, our internal cleansing program will not spare anyone,” he said.
From January 2016 to February 2019, a total of 2,528 policemen were dismissed from the service, 4,511 were suspended from their work, 601 were reprimanded, 507 were demoted in rank, 34 were placed in restriction, and 58 had their privileges withheld.
Of the 2,528 dismissed police officers, 441 were involved in illegal drug activities; 322 tested positive for illegal drugs; while 119 others were involved in illegal drug-related cases, such as being a protector or user.
The 119 police personnel involved in illegal drug activities were pinpointed by arrested drug personalities while some were caught in the act.
Albayalde warned all police personnel that he would never tolerate illegal acts or wrongdoings committed by anyone within their ranks.
“When a recruit takes his oath as a professional police officer, he automatically loses or waives some of his rights in favor of organizational discipline, duties and responsibilities. So, being scolded, reprimanded, bawled out, or dressed down for misdemeanor, misconduct or commission of crime is just part and parcel of his life being in the uniformed service,” the police chief said earlier.
He also reiterated that the PNP is serious in enforcing culture change and character transformation among police officers.
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