Napolcom to probe case fixing
THE National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has confirmed the entrapment operation by the police conducted against its employee who was allegedly involved in the “fixing” of cases for a fee.
According to Commissioner Atty. Rafael Vicente Calinisan, the employee identified as alias ‘Noel’ was asking for money in exchange for a favorable outcome of (Napolcom) cases and simple follow-up (of cases) matters.
The operation was conducted by the PNP’s Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR) based on a complaint from a former police official, Maj. Jefferson Guillermo.
Calinisan said that the Commission En Banc will pursue an administrative investigation against several other personalities engaged in the same scheme after another complainant who is set to surface soon pointed to Noel and seven others who were “into the malpractice” reportedly either tolerating or directly participating in corrupt practices.
Five of the seven personnel are Napolcom employees.
This person, according to Calinisan, was using his name to extort money.
“Consultant” ko daw ang isang dating Napolcom Commissioner na gagamitin nila para maareglo ang kaso ni Major Guillermo. This is not true. In my 17 years as a public interest lawyer, I shun away from these types of dealings,” he stressed.
As the newly appointed Napolcom Commissioner, Calinisan said; “I want to assure the public that corruption has no place in our institution. Bagong Pilipinas na po, and hindi ko papayagan na dating kalakaran pa din ang mananaig dito sa Napolcom. Tapos na ang maliligayang araw ng mga corrupt. The arrest of one of our employees for soliciting bribe money is a clear violation of our mandate to uphold integrity and justice.”
This case, he added, should serve as a wake-up call to cohorts of ‘Noel’ or to any person in NAPOLCOM who is involved in case fixing.
“Wala kayong lugar sa NAPOLCOM, and I will find you and make you accountable. . . . As the police of policemen, it is about time that sweeping reforms be made,” the Commissioner said.
Following his order for an immediate and thorough investigation into this incident, Calinisan also ensured that this individual, along with his cohorts, faced swift and decisive administrative and criminal action as he launched a comprehensive review of the commission’s internal processes to root out corrupt practices and prevent future incidents.
