37 rogue cops dismissed

In a bid to cleanse its ranks of erring and abusive cops, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has dismissed 37 policemen and sanctioned 156 others for various offenses since August.

Metro police chief Director Reynaldo Varilla warned that "more heads would roll" should officers continue engaging in illegal activities like extortion.

"This is just the beginning. They have no business staying in the police organization should they continue destroying its good image," Varilla said in an interview.

The NCRPO chief said the campaign against rogue cops was in line with the instructions of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Oscar Calderon to create "honesty teams" in the fight against corrupt policemen.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., head of the regional investigation division of the NCRPO, noted that of the 37 dismissed policemen, at least 40 percent were listed as absent without official leave.

"They are not reporting for work anymore so it is just proper to dismiss them from the police service," Rojas said.

The others were dismissed for involvement in robbery-extortion, abuse of authority or drug use.

Majority of those dismissed were enlisted personnel, Rojas pointed out.

He started going after erring cops after Varilla assumed command of the NCRPO last Aug. 14.

In his report to the Metro police chief, Rojas said three policemen were also dropped from the rolls, meaning they are candidates for dismissal should they fail to explain their long absence, while 21 others face summary hearings for various offenses.

He said a total of 84 policemen were reprimanded, 27 suspended, 17 admonished, and four other demoted.

Varilla has vowed to make the NCRPO a credible police organization under his watch.

"They should pack their things and leave the organization if they refuse to toe the line," Varilla said.

The Metro police chief pointed out that there is a long list of applicants at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City to replace those not worthy of their badges.

"Marami tayong aplikante na pamalit sa kanila. Kung ayaw nilang magbago, mabuti pa lisanin na nila ang serbisyo dahil walang humpay itong kampanya natin laban sa tiwaling mga pulis natin," Varilla said.

He also formed three honesty teams to closely monitor routes of provincial buses and illegal jeepney terminals, where extort cops often strike.

"We will hit them hard. There will be no sacred cows in our campaign," Varilla said.

The NCRPO chief called for an active participation of the public in the fight against erring policemen in Metro Manila. He urged the citizenry to report the presence of abusive cops through PNP Text 2920, or call the DILG Police Assistance Hotline 117.