Davide said he has received information about certain policemen who are coddling criminals, but that he cannot divulge their names because this is "highly confidential."
He said these police officials and personnel are either protectors or coddlers of criminal syndicates, which partly explains why illegal activities in the city remain unabated despite the efforts of the city government to contain them.
"It is public knowledge that some policemen have a pool of snatchers, pickpockets and other criminals and their operations are confined in a specific turf," Davide told The Freeman.
"The involvement of these (police) officials and personnel in criminal activities has seriously affected the integrity of the (city police), demoralized its honest, faithful and idealistic members, and eroded the public’s trust and confidence in it," Davide said in a proposed measure.
He said the investigation is aimed at ensuring "the loyalty and fidelity of these police officials and personnel to their sworn duty to protect and serve the people."
Davide said this is also a "test case" to find out if the higher police officials can police their own ranks.
If the regional police command fails in the investigation, he said the matter will be referred to the National Bureau of Investigation. — Freeman News Service