A policeman was arrested after being caught in an entrapment operation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) integrity and monitoring group at a restaurant opposite Camp Crame in Quezon City Tuesday.
According to Police Brig. Gen. Flynn Dognbo, director of the PNP-IMEG, the male suspect, has the rank of Police Master Sergeant and is assigned to the PNP crime laboratory group.
The entrapment was carried out after receiving a complaint regarding the alleged extortion of a PNP applicant.
The suspect will allegedly help the victim get his name on the list of passed applicants in exchange for P6,000. The oath-taking of the newly recruited police officers will be this Friday.
The PNP applicant agreed to meet, and when it was confirmed that the transaction was there, the authorities arrested the suspect.
The suspect will face charges of robbery, extortion, violation of Republic Act 6713 and Republic Act 3019, or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
According to PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar, he is already investigating the incident to ensure that the PNP’s recruitment process is not tainted by any corruption.
In May, Eleazar committed that he would eradicate the “padrino” system in the police organization.
Police arrested for allegedly extorting money from PNP applicant
Eleazar said eliminating the “padrino” system would allow more qualified applicants to enter the PNP.
“Naging kalakaran na kasi na kung papasok ka ng PNP, kailangan may kilala ka, otherwise baka mai-slash ka or hindi mapili. Sa recruitment pa lang, nagkakaroon na ng korapsyon,” Eleazar said.
(It has become common practice in joining the PNP. You have to know someone. Otherwise, you might end up being cut or ignored. As early as the corruption stage, there’s corruption.)
“Para sa mga aplikante, hindi niyo na kailangang maghanap ng padrino at gumastos,” he said. “Itinutuwid na po natin ang kultura ng palakasan at padrino system sa recruitment na nagsilbing hadlang para makapasok ang iba pang qualified na aplikante.”
(As for you applicants, you no longer need to look for a “sponsor” nor spend money. In addition, we’ve started doing away with the culture of connections in recruitment, which has prevented the entry of qualified applicants.)
Under Eleazar’s leadership, they would enforce a QR code system in the recruitment process of PNP applicants.
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