PNP reactivates ‘honesty’ teams to complement lifestyle checks

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has reactivated the “honesty” teams formed eight years ago as part of its renewed campaign to weed out rogue policemen involved in “kotong” and other illegal activities.

The honesty teams will complement the lifestyle checks to be conducted on police officials, Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, director of the PNP Public Information Office, said.

“We have reactivated the honesty teams in the PNP in support of the lifestyle check earlier ordered by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas,” Sindac said.

He said teams from the PNP Directorate for Intelligence have been dispatched to conduct lifestyle check on policemen linked to illegal activities.

The PNP has intensified its campaign against scalawags in the police force after 12 police officers were tagged in a daring robbery along EDSA early this month.

Alarmed over the rampant extortion complaints by drivers, truckers and the public, former PNP chief Oscar Calderon formed the honesty police teams in 2006 to rid the streets of kotong (mulcting) policemen.

‘Personal attack’

Meanwhile, the PNP questioned the timing of the filing of plunder and graft charges against Director General Alan Purisima, who is out of the country on an official mission.

The PNP chief is attending an Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Extortion Senior Leadership Consultation conference in Colombia.

Sindac said they are considering legal options against those who filed the cases when Purisima returns to the country next week.

“It is a clear effort to malign and tarnish the good name of the PNP chief as well as the organization. These are actions aimed at destroying the PNP chief,” Sindac said.

He described the complaint as a “personal attack” criticizing Purisima’s personal properties and yet he was charged with plunder, an offense involving misuse of public funds.

“The whole PNP is behind our chief. We are in full support and we are closing ranks to protect the integrity of the whole organization,” Sindac said.

On Monday, the Coalition of Filipino Consumers filed plunder, graft and direct bribery charges against Purisima with the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly amassing ill-gotten wealth and receiving bribes for the building of a mansion at Camp Crame.

The group claimed that Purisima had admitted receiving money and construction materials from his Mason brothers for the construction of his official residence at Camp Crame.

The group also accused the PNP chief of hiding the true amount of his alleged mansion in Nueva Ecija. –  With Alexis Romero