AMID a stern warning issued to them by Philippine National Police (PNP) Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr. to either ‘shape up or ship out,’ three more erring police personnel have been added to the list of those accounted for as a result of the PNP’s ongoing internal cleansing program.

“As I have always emphasized, there is no room for misconduct and breach of internal discipline in the PNP, thus we will ensure that cops with criminal cases and admin charges are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law because criminals have no place in the police service,” the top cop said.

Latest to be apprehended by the PNP agents were Major Angelita Nastor, 40; AWOL Police Officer 1 Jonjon Averion,32; and Police Staff Sergeant Igmedio Cristobal Jr., also 40 years old.

Lt. Gen. Danao said Nastor was arrested by operatives from the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group under Brigadier Gen. Samuel C. Nacion and the San Jose Municipal Police Station in Occidental Mindoro of the Police Regional Office 4-B headed by Brig. Gen. Sydney S. Hernia on Tuesday last week.

The officer is the subject of a warrant for direct assault or Article 148 of the Revised Penal Code issued by Judge Dennis Aga of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 140 with a P36,000 recommended bail. The accused was taken to the San Jose police station for booking and documentation prior to her presentation to court, said the top cop.

Averion was arrested by members of the PNP-IMEG and the Tagkawayan MPS in his hiding place in Bgy. Poblacion in Tagkawayan, Quezon around 5:30 p.m. last May 24.

Lt. Gen. Danao said the AWOL policeman is the subject of a warrant of arrest for robbery-extortion and robbery issued by Judge Liezel Aquiatan of the Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 205 last April 26.

Staff Sgt. Cristobal was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Molo, Iloilo and is facing criminal and administrative charges that will automatically lead to his dismissal from the force.

According to the top cop, the accused was arrested in a buy-bust operation along Aries Street in VML Subdivision, North Fundidor, Molo, Iloilo.

The erring cop was immediately disarmed shortly after the sting which resulted in the seizure of 17 heat-sealed plastic sachets containing around 55 grams of shabu worth P374,000 and the buy-bust money, said Lt. Gen. Danao.

Members of the Police Regional Office 6 Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and the Iloilo City Police Office under Brig. Gen. Flynn E. Dongbo conducted the operation, the PNP-OIC said.

Apart from the pieces of drug evidence, also confiscated from the suspect were a cellphone he used in making contact with the poseur, different identification cards and a motorcycle with plate no. FC 13001.

“Ang pagkahuli kay PSSg Cristobal ay babala para sa iba pang kasamahan natin na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin tumitigil sa paggawa ng iligal at labag sa batas. Sa ilalim ng aking pamumuno ay titiyakin ko at hindi magdadalawang isip na tanggalin sa serbisyo at kasuhan ang sinumang mahuhuli at mapatunayang sangkot sa iligal na gawain lalong-lalo na ang iligal na droga,” Lt. Gen. Danao said.

Cristobal is now being held at the PRO6 RPDEU office and is facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and administrative charges for grave misconduct.

Lt. Gen. Danao ordered Brig. Gen. Dongbo to ensure an air-tight administrative case against the suspect which will lead to his dismissal from the police force without any benefits.

He is also facing the prospect of being given the maximum sentence of life imprisonment once convicted for violation of RA 9165.

The PNP-OIC earlier sternly warned the few remaining rogues in uniform: ‘shape up or ship out’ or end up in jail or worse, six-feet underground in case they put up an armed resistance while about to be arrested.

“I’m giving you a stern warning. Ayaw niyong magbago? Babaguhin ko ‘yong buhay niyo, kung hindi niyo babaguhin, palitan ko ‘yong birthday niyo. Hindi ako nagbibiro,” he added.

Lt. Gen. Danao was speaking not only as the PNP-OIC but due to his experience as director of the Manila Police District, the Police Regional Office 4-A in Calabarzon region and the National Capital Region Police Office.

“Alam niyo kasi I was assigned in NCRPO eh, and meron pa rin d’yan mangilan-ngilan although these are unvalidated reports, pero sabi ko nga just to give a fair warning to everyone not to be involved. This is addressed to all members, be it general, down to the lowest rank of PO1 and NUP. I would like to give you a fair warning,” he said.

Lt. Gen. Danao had said that a total of 5,652 police personnel have been dismissed from the force from July 1, 2016 to date in line with their strict internal cleansing program.

The PNP-OIC said that of the 5,652 dismissed cops, 504 including 10 PCOs were found guilty of involvement in illegal drug activities or substance abuse.

Another 183 which include 11 PCOs, 171 Police Non-Commissioned Officers and one Non-Uniformed Personnel were axed from the PNP after they were found to be involved in drug-related cases from July 216 to last November 13.

Another 23 PNCOs were also fired from the service for substance abuse and six for involvement in illegal drug activities from November 13, 2021 to last May 4.