PNP orders probé on bribery issue vs Bulacan cops
BPPO director P/Col. Relly Arnedo categorically denied that his men are involved in collecting bribe money, both from legal and illegal fireworks manufacturers
Daily TribuneBPPO director P/Col. Relly Arnedo categorically denied that his men are involved in collecting bribe money, both from legal and illegal fireworks manufacturers
Danger lurks Any spark, as it has been proven in the past, can set off an inferno in any of the mom’s and pop’s fireworks factories in Bocaue, Bulacan. | PHOTOGRAPH BY YUMMIE DINGDING FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE
The Philippine National Police leadership yesterday ordered a full-blown investigation into complaints that pyrotechnic makers in the province of Bulacan are allegedly being shaken down by some rogue members of the local police.
Reacting to a 29 December Daily Tribune banner story that fireworks makers have become the "milking cows" of cops, PNP spokesperson P/Col. Jean Fajardo said Thursday that they will get to the bottom of the allegations against the Bulacan Provincial Police Office or BPPO.
In the Tribune exclusive story, a legally operating fireworks maker, Manong Roy, claimed that corrupt members of the BPPO have been demanding P3,000 to P5,000 from him during the cops' "regular visits" which he termed as pasyal.
Some other pyrotechnic makers interviewed by Daily Tribune, who also requested anonymity, backed Roy's "visitation" claim.
Categorically denied
BPPO director P/Col. Relly Arnedo categorically denied that his men are involved in collecting bribe money, both from the legal fireworks manufacturers and those manufacturing and selling without accreditation from the DTI and other concerned government agencies.
Arnedo maintained that they only conduct site inspections of pyrotechnic storage and complex stations for manufacturers and stores during their applications for renewal of licenses before the endorsement of a higher office.
He pointed out that such inspections by the BPPO are conducted jointly with representatives of the DTI, the Bureau of Fire Protection and barangay officials.
The same holds true for inspections after the issuance of the licenses to manufacturers and dealers, Arnedo said — in that they're done jointly with the provincial and local government units and the BFF "to ensure their compliance with the requirements provided (for) by law."
Further, the BPPO commander said that from September 2022 to date, his office has recorded only three inspections in collaboration with stakeholders.
"As to illegal manufacturers, several operations were already made that led to the apprehensions of 22 individuals now all facing charges before the court for violating Republic Act 7183 or the Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution, and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices," he explained.
Arnedo assured that his office will not tolerate cops under his command, extorting or accepting bribe money from anyone.
Still, the PNP in Camp Crame, through Col. Fajardo and its public information chief P/Col. Redrico Maranan said it has stepped into the picture.
"The PNP does not and will never tolerate these misdoings of its members. We will be ordering an investigation to ascertain the truthfulness of the report, and if found to be true, the personnel involved will be subjected to appropriate disciplinary and legal actions," Fajardo said.
She urged the manufacturers allegedly victimized by bribe-seeking cops to surface and file formal complaints.
FEO, too?
"We encourage the manufacturers possibly involved in this incident to come out and formalize the allegations against Bulacan policemen. Let the arms of the law work against our personnel who try to taint the reputation of the whole organization," she added.
Maranan said the PNP has directed its Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group and Internal Affairs Service to investigate.
In his interview with Daily Tribune, Roy said if legal fireworks makers like him are being strong-armed to shell out "grease money," more so the illegal manufacturers of fireworks.
"Mas malaki ang hatag nila (the spread or amount paid is bigger)," he said, referring to manufacturers not licensed by the DTI and whose products do not carry the requisite Philippine Standard mark.
He also wondered how the illegal manufacturers are able to source the chemicals used in the trade when their sale are supposedly heavily regulated by the PNP Firearms and Explosive Office.
The PNP has yet to comment on whether it would also look at how pyrotechnic chemicals are being illicitly traded as made evident by the confiscation of illegal firecrackers and uncertified fireworks.
The DTI on Wednesday said they would check on Tribune's story on the allegedly still rampant sale of illegal fireworks in Bulacan.
"Some of the illegals had been accosted," one legitimate fireworks maker said. "The police were also seen making the rounds of shops selling fireworks."
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week urged local government units to designate areas for the display of fireworks whose use had been pre-approved as the nation welcomes 2023.
Government data showed 128 people sustained fireworks-related injuries or FRIs in the 2021 New Year's Eve revelries, compared to 122 in 2020. As of Thursday, 36 cases of FIRs had been recorded by the Department of Health.
