PNP chief deploys ‘Honesty Teams’ to go after rogue cops

Police officers will be watching their colleagues to identify rogue cops so they could be dismissed from the service.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Calderon said "Honesty Teams" under the deputy regional director for operations will monitor illegal activities in the 17 regional police offices nationwide.

"With this program, everyone will always be on guard for fear of getting caught while doing illegal activities by our Honesty Teams," he said.

Calderon advised his men not to risk destroying their reputation and being dismissed from the service just for the sake of grease money.

"Despite the several organizational and internal reform measures instituted, there are still some personnel who undertake activities that undermine the organization’s good accomplishments and the image credibility it has gained through the years," he said.

Calderon said he would not hesitate to fire policemen found victimizing people in cahoots with criminals.

Honesty Teams in the regional, provincial and city levels will operate against rogue cops engaged in "kotong," "hulidap," mulcting, bribery, and other illegal activities, he added.

Calderon said Honesty Teams will closely monitor the activities of police personnel assigned in traffic enforcement, checkpoints, patrol operations, and offices issuing clearances and licenses.

The campaign will encourage the public to help police in identifying "rogues in uniform," he added.

When he assumed office, Calderon vowed to "crack the whip" on erring police personnel who will not "toe the line" in his policy of internal reforms.

He has instructed Honesty Teams to insure that "viajeros" or merchants transporting goods to the market will not fall victim to "kotong," he added.

Calderon said among the targets of Honesty Teams are crooked traffic law enforcers who prey on unsuspecting motorists, and those who demand protection money from public transport operators.

His office will directly receive complaints from the public sent via Txt PNP 2920, as well as phoned-in and walk-in complaints received by the Complaints Referral and Action Center (CRAC) at Camp Crame in Quezon City, he added.

Calderon said Chief Superintendent Ireneo Manaois, deputy director for police community relations, is the head action officer of the Complaints Desk.

Action officers from the Intelligence Group , Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Internal Affairs Service, and Police Community Relations Group will also be detailed to the Complaints Desk for better coordination of all command actions on complaints, he added.