Manila - The Philippine National Police (PNP) remains steadfast in its campaign against misconduct within its ranks, as emphasized by PNP Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. on Friday. This declaration follows the recent arrest of two police officers in separate buy-bust operations in San Fernando, Pampanga, and Cagayan de Oro City.
According to Philippines News Agency, who spoke during the 71st founding anniversary of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at Camp Crame, the involvement of police officers in illegal activities is regrettable. However, he maintains a positive outlook, viewing these incidents as a testament to the PNP's ongoing commitment to remove officers who engage in illegal activities. In San Fernando, Pampanga, Police Regional Office-3 Director Brig. Gen. Jose S. Hidalgo Jr. reported that a suspect was apprehended by various police units, resulting in the seizure of 50 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP 340,000. Meanwhile, in Cagayan de Oro, an active police officer and an accomplice were arrested, with operatives confiscating sachets of suspected shabu and marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia and personal items. The total value of the seized drugs was nearly PHP 14,000.
The police are preparing cases for violation of Sections 5, 11, 12, and 15 of R.A. No. 9165 against the arrested officers, who will also face administrative cases for grave misconduct, potentially leading to dismissal from the PNP service. Gen. Acorda commended the efforts of the regional units and issued a warning to immediate supervisors to ensure proper accountability and oversight of their personnel. He revealed that, from January 1 to the present date, 16 PNP personnel have been dismissed.
In a related development, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported that close to 28,300 villages across the country have been declared drug-cleared. The PDEA's latest report on the national anti-drug campaign indicates that from July 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023, 28,243 out of 42,000 barangays have achieved "drug-cleared" status, while 7,268 are still being cleared. During this period, authorities seized PHP 31.07 billion worth of illegal drugs and arrested 75,880 drug suspects in 55,495 anti-illegal drug operations. Additionally, 822 drug dens and a clandestine shabu laboratory were dismantled.