Bato cites fewer complaints vs cops

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP)’s efforts to rid its ranks of scalawags have produced positive results as complaints on police officers allegedly involved in illegal activities are now fewer, according to PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

If President Duterte asks them to return to the war on illegal drugs, Dela Rosa said they are ready as a result of their internal cleansing.

Duterte recently sidelined the PNP from the drug war following allegations of irregularities in anti-drug operations.

“The number of reports coming from the community has gone down, meaning the number of erring personnel involved in foolishness has been reduced,” Dela Rosa said in a press briefing on Friday.

The PNP Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF), which Dela Rosa formed earlier this year to weed out corrupt police officers, has been receiving less complaints recently.

“At the start or our internal cleansing program, the CITF (had) been receiving hundreds of texts and calls from the public, but right now only 10 complaints daily,” he said.

CITF spokesman Chief Insp. Jewel Nicanor also said tips on the activities of police scalawags have decreased.

“From a high of hundreds, it has declined to as low as zero a day,” Nicanor said in a text message.

Since its creation last February, the CITF has arrested 51 police officers in 24 operations.

Nicanor said most of the suspected police scalawags are involved in robbery-extortion.