PNP probes ‘demolition job’ vs Marbil

MANILA, Philippines — An investigation is underway to unmask the people behind what the Philippine National Police suspects to be a demolition job against PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.

Col. Jean Fajardo, the PNP’s chief publicist, said the police Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) is investigating several posts on Facebook attributing certain policies to Marbil.

Among these is a Facebook post by a certain Lhey Alcantara Alcala accusing Marbil of having ordered the donation of police officer’s combat duty pay and combat incentive pay to persons deprived of liberty under the care of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Bureau of Corrections.

The Facebook post suggested, without evidence, that Marbil would take a cut from the proceeds intended for the inmates.

However, Fajardo said there was no such instruction from Marbil, adding the PNP chief would be held liable for technical malversation.

“May naninira lang. Actually hinahanap na naming ‘yang may gawa ng (There is someone slandering him. Actually, we are searching for the one behind the) fake news,” she said in an interview.

There are other social media posts that added more directives to Marbil’s summary of guidance. One of these is that police officers will only receive half of their mid-year and year-end bonuses while the remaining half will go to charity institutions.

Fajardo said the ACG will determine the identities of the people behind the “demolition job” against the PNP chief.