40 cops sacked over corruption

MANILA, Philippines — Forty members of the Philippine National Police Civil Security Group (PNP-CSG) have been relieved from their posts over allegations of corruption, an official announced yesterday.

CSG director Maj. Gen. Roberto Fajardo said the relief of the police officers is part of a continuing revamp to weed out scalawags in the PNP.

Fajardo said those placed on floating status while being investigated are police non-commissioned officers and non-uniformed personnel.

“Bago man ako matanggal dito sa pwesto, at least natanggal ko na sila,” he said.

According to Fajardo, the allegedly corrupt personnel were assigned with the CSG and two units under its supervision: the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies and Firearms and Explosives Office.

Fajardo recently relieved 27 police officers for their alleged involvement in corruption.

“Despite the first major revamp in the CSG two weeks ago, reports about corruption still persist – delayed processing of documents, collection of grease money and withholding of approved licenses,” he said.

Fajardo said the policemen allegedly collected grease money ranging from P200 for online applications for gun licenses to as high as P30,000 for non-appearances.

He said CSG personnel reportedly involved in corruption held their transactions in a restaurant at Camp Crame in Quezon City and a fastfood chain outside the police camp.

The CSG is conducting an inventory to determine the amount of money it has been losing due to the corruption, Fajardo said.

The CSG has about 3,000 police officers and non-uniformed personnel nationwide. Of the number, around 1,000 are detailed at Camp Crame.