Stricter vetting of new cops

Following a spate of incidents involving policemen in active duty in various crimes and corrupt activities, Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday said they will conduct stricter background checks on new recruits as part of efforts to cleanse their ranks.

Albayalde lamented that while the government doubled the salaries of uniformed personnel this year several policemen—mostly rookie officers—opted to lead a life of crime.

“Despite the fact that our salaries were already doubled, I am deeply disturbed that there are still these kinds of incident that are happening. I think these incidents are being triggered by the need to amass more money because of their lifestyles,” Albayalde said in a radio interview.

Albayalde cited the involvement of four police officers in kidnap-extortion in Taguig City where several policemen allegedly abducted a couple and asked for P200,000 in exchange for their freedom.

Before this incident, authorities said the same suspects allegedly raided a woman’s house Monday night and took P50,000 from her.

In the ensuing entrapment operation, the suspects shot it out with elements of the Taguig City police and Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) leading to the death of one of the suspects and the arrest of three other police officers.

The incident resulted to the relief of the entire PCP 1 police force, pending the investigation into possible involvement of other lawmen in criminal activities.

Apart from stricter screening of new recruits, Albayalde said they are coordinating with priests and different churches in the country for “spiritual cleansing” of policemen.