PNP upgrades anti-scalawag unit
Published Jun 14, 2019 06:31 pm
By Martin Sadongdong
The anti-scalawag unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Counter-Intelligence Task Force (CITF), is now called the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG).
Philippine National Police (MANILA BULLETIN)
This, after the PNP "upgraded" the two-year-old CITF as it institutionalized its efforts in eliminating rogue cops and cleansing its ranks, said Police General Oscar Albayalde, PNP Chief.
The activation of the IMEG was held in a formal ceremony at Camp Crame in Quezon City Friday afternoon with Interior and the Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año serving as the guest of honor and speaker.
"First of all, we upgrade the CITF into a group. More resources, more people and more authority. We are serious in cleansing the ranks of the policemen," Año told reporters.
Albayalde said the newly-formed enforcement group was designed to conduct intelligence build-up and law enforcement operations against PNP personnel who are involved in any illegal activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, financial crimes, cybercrime, malversation, graft and corrupt practices, security violations, and others.
"Dahil ang IMEG would be considered a national operating support unit, the commander will be upgraded to Police Brigadier General. There is a big chance that he will be promoted but it will have to undergo a process," he said.
Police Colonel Romeo Caramat, the commander of the now-defunct CITF, will serve as the officer-in-charge of the IMEG while Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Red will act as the deputy group commander for administration.
The IMEG is composed of 306 uniformed personnel, 55 police commissioned officers and 251 police non-commissioned officers.
An additional 72-men personnel from the elite Special Action Force will continue to provide tactical support to the IMEG, Albayalde added.
From January 2016 to February 2019, a total of 2,528 policemen were dismissed from the service, 4,511 were suspended from their work, 601 were reprimanded, 507 were demoted in rank, 34 were placed in restriction, and 58 had their privileges withheld due to various offenses.
Of the 2,528 dismissed police officers, 441 were involved in illegal drug activities; 322 tested positive for illegal drugs; while 119 others were involved in illegal drug-related cases, such as being a drug protector or user.
Philippine National Police (MANILA BULLETIN)
This, after the PNP "upgraded" the two-year-old CITF as it institutionalized its efforts in eliminating rogue cops and cleansing its ranks, said Police General Oscar Albayalde, PNP Chief.
The activation of the IMEG was held in a formal ceremony at Camp Crame in Quezon City Friday afternoon with Interior and the Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año serving as the guest of honor and speaker.
"First of all, we upgrade the CITF into a group. More resources, more people and more authority. We are serious in cleansing the ranks of the policemen," Año told reporters.
Albayalde said the newly-formed enforcement group was designed to conduct intelligence build-up and law enforcement operations against PNP personnel who are involved in any illegal activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, financial crimes, cybercrime, malversation, graft and corrupt practices, security violations, and others.
"Dahil ang IMEG would be considered a national operating support unit, the commander will be upgraded to Police Brigadier General. There is a big chance that he will be promoted but it will have to undergo a process," he said.
Police Colonel Romeo Caramat, the commander of the now-defunct CITF, will serve as the officer-in-charge of the IMEG while Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Red will act as the deputy group commander for administration.
The IMEG is composed of 306 uniformed personnel, 55 police commissioned officers and 251 police non-commissioned officers.
An additional 72-men personnel from the elite Special Action Force will continue to provide tactical support to the IMEG, Albayalde added.
From January 2016 to February 2019, a total of 2,528 policemen were dismissed from the service, 4,511 were suspended from their work, 601 were reprimanded, 507 were demoted in rank, 34 were placed in restriction, and 58 had their privileges withheld due to various offenses.
Of the 2,528 dismissed police officers, 441 were involved in illegal drug activities; 322 tested positive for illegal drugs; while 119 others were involved in illegal drug-related cases, such as being a drug protector or user.