I’M referring to the need for Malacañang Palace and the DILG-PNP leaderships to come up with a real “Solomonic wisdom” in deciding on the case of NCRPO chief Major General Sidney Hernia and PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group director Maj. Gen. Ronnie Cariaga who have been administratively relieved for 10-days in the aftermath of the controversial raid in Ermita, Manila last October 29.

It means that the Presidential Palace, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla (he has already revamped the National Police Commission which now has a new vice chairman and executive officer in the person of a very young Attorney Ricardo Bernabe III vice Atty. Alberto Bernardo) and PNP chief General Rommel Marbil have to come up with real wisdom, reasonableness or discretion at the end of the probe into the allegations hurled against some NCRPO and PNP-ACG operatives as a result of the raid at the Vertex Technology located at the Century Peak building.

Real wisdom or reason should be made by the higher-ups as they are faced with the difficult circumstance of deciding on the merits of the case which involves two police 2-star generals, one that could shape or affect the future of the concerned officials.

For one, I think that officers and men of the entire 232,000-strong police force are looking at what would be that decision. A favorable one would mean the government is standing behind its police officers who are going after influential and money personalities including foreign nationals involved in multi-billion online frauds including the banned POGO operations.

A favorable decision would easily mean that the operations are properly done and in full accordance with the law and all standard police operating procedures and that although some officers of the PNP-ACG were accused of committing some infractions like tinkering with the CCTV cameras in the area, they were immediately relieved and are now undergoing administrative investigations.

A negative decision would mean two police generals will be out of their units after stepping on the toes of moneyed personalities. If that would be the case, will other police officials be brave enough in the future to undertake similar operations knowing that their careers are at stake? Will it trigger widespread demoralization too and affect the morale and welfare of the organization?

These things are to be considered since there were previous claims about the presence of ‘high-level connections and influential networks” of illegal POGO hubs as well as so-called “bureaucratic resistance” that affect law enforcement operations against their moneyed and influential targets.

One thing however should be done once the investigation is concluded. That is the need for a real ‘whole-of-government approach” in carrying out President Bongbong Marcos’ ordered to shut down all POGOs in the country by the end of the year. No ifs and buts here.

As reported earlier, the 23rd floor of the Ermita building was raided on the strength of Warrant to Search, Seize and Examine Computer Data issued by a local court amid verified reports that the area is being used in online scams including “Love Scam and Cryptocurrency Investment Scam.” Thus, the NCRPO and the PNP-ACG must prove that computer evidence recovered during the raid will prove those allegations

MARBIL SCORES BIG IN DISMISSING 11 SAF TROOPERS OVER UNAUTHORIZED ESCORT ISSUE

Gen. Marbil also scored big in his oft-repeated promise to conduct an honest-to-goodness internal cleansing of the police force with his decision to approved a recommendation by the PNP Internal Affairs Service to dismiss 11 Special Action Force troopers for their “moonlighting activities” in particular for providing unauthorized escort services to a wealthy Chinese national and his family.

PNP spokesperson Brigadier Gen. Jean Fajardo said the top cop signed the dismissal orders of the 11 in a “firm move to safeguard the integrity of the Philippine National Police” which was scandalized by the incident in which two of the dismissed commandos exchanged blows with each other following a heated argument inside the posh Ayala Alabang Village.

The incident triggered a massive investigation by the PNP-IAS headed by Inspector General Brigido Dulay. As a result, Gen. Marbil approved the IAS recommendation to dismiss the 11 which include six Police Commissioned Officers and five Non-Commissioned Officers after they were found guilty of grave misconduct, dishonesty, grave irregularity in the performance of their duties, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.

A 12th SAF officer was found guilty of Simple Neglect of Duty and Less Grave Neglect of Duty and meted the penalty of 31 days suspension while three were exonerated due to insufficient evidence linking them to the alleged violations.

The case stemmed from an incident on May 18, 2024, when a security guard of the subdivision reported a disturbance in the area triggered by a fistfight between two men. Responding policemen who arrested the two trouble-makers found out they were SAF troopers ‘moonlighting’ as security for a Chinese national identified as AH Long and his two children.

The PNP-IAS investigation showed that two of the 11 deployed the two feuding commandos to the Chinese family in violation of PNP regulations. Each received a monthly P40,000 allowance, half-of which supposedly ‘pocketed’ by their superiors.

The other officers concealed the two’s absence by manipulating their Daily Personnel and Payroll Action Report to falsely indicate that they were present on duty. In addition, one of the PNCOs transferred funds, reportedly earned through his moonlighting activities, to another officer’s account.

Himself a former SAF trooper, Gen. Marbil made it clear he would not tolerate any form of misconduct or dishonesty within their ranks. The PNP-SAF men’s case also opened a real ‘can of worms’ in the organization which should be honestly investigated.

I’m referring to the so-called ‘”Lubog or 15-30 cops” who are “moonlighting” as security men to moneyed persons and are being tolerated by their immediate superiors for different reasons, one of them extra money.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon