Gov't vows to go after erring policemen

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government said today that there will be no let up in its efforts to hunt down policemen who were accused of being involved in criminal activities.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the Philippine government has "zero tolerance" for "rogue cops."

Coloma also made the assurance that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is committed to cleaning up its ranks.

"Let us consider first of all that there are 125,000 officers and men of the PNP and that only a few were allegedly involved (in robbery and kidnapping)," he said in a news briefing in Malacanang, the presidential palace.

Coloma made the remarks after two victims accused nine policemen of being involved in robbery and kidnapping on EDSA, a major highway in the Philippine capital region of Metro Manila.

The victims, who were on their way to buy a heavy-duty equipment costing P2 million ($45,900), were allegedly waylaid by the policemen and were forcibly taken to their headquarters in Quezon City on Sept. 1.

A motorist took a photo of the incident and posted it on a social networking site. The photo became "viral" and prompted the PNP to investigate the incident.  

The PNP is still searching for seven other policemen who were tagged in the highway robbery.