MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Monday backed a proposal to conduct a lifestyle check on the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) amid allegations that some cops are involved in the scheme of recycling or reselling illegal drugs seized from operations.
“That’s a very good idea. There should be lifestyle check internally among the PNP members and for that matter, heads of department should conduct on their own,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a media interview.
Panelo added that the lifestyle check should be conducted by the PNP Internal Affairs Service.
Senator Richard Gordon earlier pushed for a lifestyle check on PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde as well as the 13 police personnel allegedly involved in a controversial anti-drug operation in Mexico, Pampanga in 2013.
Albayalde’s name was dragged in the issue as he was the head of the Pampanga provincial police when the questioned police operation took place.
He was also accused of intervening in the case of the 13 cops who were only demoted instead of being dismissed as ordered in 2014.
The PNP chief has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The Senate Blue Ribbon and Justice Committees, chaired by Gordon, is investigating the alleged drug recycling scheme of some ‘ninja cops’ and the questionable application of the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) rule for inmates.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said to give him clear proof that Albayalde was involved in the narcotics trade, stressing the importance of following the due process in the ‘ninja cops’ issue.
He also said that he still trusts Albayalde and that he should be given the time to answer the claims against him. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Rosalie Coz)
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