Entire PNP to file SALNs anew for financial investigation

MANILA, Philippines – The whole force of Philippine National Police (PNP) is required to refile their Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) as part of a police campaign to clean their own backyard of suspected protectors of the drug trade.

PNP spokesperson Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said that they are now conducting financial investigations on their personnel after some were included in the embarrassing “narco-officials” list read in public by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Despite the submission over the years e hinihingi po ngayon ‘yung SALN. Lahat po kami ay sasagot at magco-comply dito,” Carlos said in a press briefing on Wednesday in Camp Crame.

READ: Dela Rosa hits ‘shocking’ Metro Manila cops

A special unit has been tasked to investigate the financial capabilities of the uniformed personnel and will look into paper and money trails, the spokesperson added.

The PNP aims to determine who among their officers may be receiving money from the drug trade.

In his expletive-laden talk with the 32 alleged "narco" police officers who surrendered last Monday, PNP chief Rolando “Bato” Dela Rosa mentioned that he knows many of the alleged drug protectors are leading lavish lifestyles.

“Mayroon ganoong detalye na nakararating sa ating PNP chief kaya nga he was able to say that. Over the years, may mga pangalan na ho na lumulutang at magtataka ka kung bakit ganoon ang estado (ng buhay nila),” the spokesperson said but clarified that there are just some individuals from the list.

Carlos said that they will seek help from the Anti-Money Laundering Council for their investigation.

“Mahihingi natin ang tulong ng ahensya ng gobyerno na ‘yan ‘pag dating sa ginagawang financial investigation. The normal course is you also make use of assistance from other authorities.”

Also on Monday, a big-time drug lord surrendered and revealed to Dela Rosa that a PNP senior superintendent received weekly protection money of P200,000 when he was still operating in the Visayas.

Aside from the 98 PNP personnel in the “narco officials” list, Duterte earlier publicly named the “narco generals” whom he said are the big protectors of drug lords. The officials, two of whom have already retired from the service, have denied the allegations.