Another batch of cops told to explain wealth

CEBU, Philippines - Another set of policemen is now being investigated by the Police Regional Office-7 for allegedly possessing unexplained wealth and having more than one private car.

Senior Superintendent Jose Carumba, chief of Regional Internal Affairs Services (RIAS) of PRO-7, said the new batch consists of more than 40 policemen in Central Visayas who have “dubious” properties based on their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.

He said these assets are questionable given the amount of salaries the policemen receive.

The list came from Camp Crame and was forwarded to Carumba, who also gave a copy to the Regional Intelligence Division-7, one of the units responsible for investigating erring law enforcers.

“May sinabi doon na may ibang personnel tayo dito from PRO-7 na hindi na-explain yung property nila. Meron silang properties na beyond sa income nila as police officers,” Carumba told reporters yesterday.

To deepen their investigation, Carumba said that apart from the RID, they have also tapped the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 and the Regional Intelligence Unit to determine if these police officers are also involved in illegal drugs.

Both camps have yet to give their feedbacks.

“For now, R2 (RID) pa lang nagbigay ng kopya. The rest, PDEA at RIU, wala pa. In fact, last Friday, nag-memo ako to expedite yung validation. So wala pa talagang final say,” Carumba said.

Once the PDEA and RIU give their comments, RIAS will then use the information to validate the list.

Complaints for viola-tion of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) will be filed against police officers who will be found positive during the validation.

Carumba said if the police officers are found guilty, they will be relieved from their posts, given different assignments or sent to Camp Crame.

“They will be sent to Camp Crame’s holding unit. They can still receive salary through administrative works in the office, but they cannot go back to (police) operations,” he said.

Last month, 63 policemen in the region were also subjected to investigation over their questionable assets.

In January, at least nine police officers faced criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman and another one before the Regional Investigation and Detective Management over the same issue.

Lawas promoted

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Dennis Agustin, chief of the directorial staff of PRO-7, has been appointed as deputy director for operations at the PRO-7, replacing Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Laws who has been transferred to Camp Crame.

Police Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa appointed Lawas as a member of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management and chief of the Crime Research Analysis Center effective March 16.

“Whatever is the directive from the top, I will obey,” Lawas said.

Lawas previously served as the director of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office before becoming RID chief and, eventually, chief of the directorial staff at the PRO-7.

In his new role at the Camp Crame, he will conduct monitoring on crime statistics of the entire country.

He will also be responsible for assigning personnel in places where crime rates are high.

But before serving his new role, Lawas will first stay in Cebu to lead the security preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings from April 4 to 7, said PRO-7 Director Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño. (FREEMAN)