PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. on Wednesday said the series of arrest of rogue active and dismissed police personnel is a solid testament to their sincere internal cleansing program which should be trusted by all Filipinos.

The top cop said the public must be assured that all their complaints against misfits and scalawags in the force are being completely addressed by the PNP leadership particularly by the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) headed by Brigadier Gen. Warren F. de Leon which does not tolerate abusive acts and other irregularities being committed by its men.

Gen. Azurin maintained that as a professional organization, they maintain a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy on misfits and scalawags in the police force and sees to it that any breach of discipline and irregularities being committed by its wayward personnel are being handled properly thru the conduct of criminal and administrative proceedings.

However, he said they still need the full cooperation of the public in unmasking rogues in the police force. “We really need the cooperation of all sectors in the community. Sabi ko nga ay pagtulong-tulungan natin na sugpuin ang krimen sa ating barangay. At the end of the day, pulis ang magle-lead at magpapatupad ng batas para sa kaayusan at katahimikan ng ating lugar,” he added.

Brig. Gen. de Leon said that any information may be relayed to the PNP IMEG Hotlines: Smart- 09989702286 or Globe- 09957952569 or thru the Facebook Page: Integrity Monitoring Enforcement Group and Twitter Account: @imeg2017. He assured that the identities of the informants will be kept in utmost secrecy to protect them from possible reprisals from any suspect.

Since last week, PNP-IMEG agents have arrested several erring active, dismissed or retired erring cops following tips provided by concerned citizens.

Last Thursday, members of the IMEG Luzon Field Unit arrested Captain Ruben Marilag, the deputy station commander of the Balayan Municipal Police Station in Batangas accused of demanding weekly ‘payola’ from a local resident said to be formerly operating an illegal numbers’ game.

The PNP-IMEG director said the accused was arrested following days of surveillance triggered by a complaint that thru coercion and intimidation, he was demanding a weekly P2,000 ‘payola’ from a former ‘lotteng’ operator in the municipality.

However, the complainant from Barangay Poblacion 6 in Balayan claimed that he had already stopped his illegal gambling activities after being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in March 2021.

“Despite this, the suspect insisted that the complainant must give him P2,000 a week supposedly as protection money,” said Brig. Gen. de Leon.

Acting on the complaint from the cancer patient identified only as ‘RM,’ members of the IMEG Luzon Field Unit, with the support of officers from the PNP Special Action Force’s 35th Special Action Company, Batangas Police Provincial Office and Balayan MPS arrested the suspect during an entrapment operation in front of the Robinson’s Bank near their station shortly before 5 p.m. Friday.

Recovered from the possession of the accused were the boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill, his PNP-issued caliber 9mm Pietro Beretta semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing 14 live ammunition and a wallet containing several identification cards and P3,450 in different denominations.

On Monday last week, IMEG operatives also arrested Corporal Keck Ryan Olarte, a member of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) wanted for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004.

The accused was arrested inside the NCRPO Regional Special Operations Group office in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on the strength of a warrant issued by Judge Roy Murallon of the Oroquieta City Regional Trial Court Branch 13 in Misamis Occidental last August 16

. Brig. Gen. de Leon said his men were assisted by officers from the NCRPO Regional Intelligence Division-RSOG under Col. Romano V. Cardiño in arresting the accused.

Also last week, PNP-IMEG officers arrested a 63-year old former policeman dismissed from the service for grave misconduct and wanted for a drug-related offense following tips from concerned citizens.

Ex-Police Senior Staff Sergeant Harold Campos was tracked down in his residence in Barangay Roxas District in Quezon by members of the IMEG National Capital Region Field Unit and the NCRPO.

Brig. Gen. de Leon said the suspect was placed under arrest on the strength of a warrant of arrest for violation of Section 8, Article II of Republic Act 6425 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 issued by Judge Luisito Cortez of the Q.C. Regional Grail Court Branch 84 last July 20.

The official said the main arresting team led by Lt. Oliver F. Macanas found out that the accused has been the subject of numerous complaints from his neighbors regarding his alleged involvement in various illegal activities including drugs which triggered his dismissal from the service.

All accused were immediately whisked to the IMEG headquarters in Camp Crame for documentation and booking after being apprised of their constitutional rights.

Cpt. Marilag became the 5th active PNP personnel and the 2nd Police Commissioned Officer to be arrested by the PNP-IMEG in an entrapment operation since Brig. Gen. de Leon took over as head of the unit last August 8.