PNP generals first to undergo lifestyle check

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced yesterday that its leadership is taking the voluntary lifestyle check challenge posed by Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares.

Police generals will be the first to undergo investigation.

“As what Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said, those with star rank will be the first to undergo lifestyle check,” PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima said in a statement, adding that they want to become role models to other policemen.

“This serves as an opportunity to clear the good name of the organization by eliminating suspicions and speculations of alleged ill-gotten wealth or involvement in criminal activities,” Purisima said.

He said the technical working group from the National Police Commission (Napolcom) and the PNP Internal Affairs Service are now crafting procedures for the lifestyle check for cops.

Henares earlier urged officials of the PNP to follow the example of Roxas and voluntarily submit themselves to a lifestyle check.

Roxas wants all PNP officials to go through the probe amid a spate of crimes being linked to policemen.

At least 10 police officers have been linked to a highway robbery on EDSA last Sept. 1.

The policemen involved allegedly seized P2 million in cash from the victims. Two of the police officers, Senior Inspector Oliver Villanueva and PO2 Ebonin Decatoria, were said to have declared net worth in the millions.

Villanueva, head of the investigation and intelligence branch of the Quezon City Police District Station 1, had declared a net worth of P6.5 million and assets of P8 million in 2013.

Decatoria, on the other hand, had a net worth of P4.9 million and assets of P6.6 million last year.

Roxas said the lifestyle check will not be subjective but will cover all police officers, regardless of their ranks and positions.