PNP monitoring dismissed cops

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police will keep a close eye on former PNP officers who were kicked out of the service for irregularities or those who went absent without leave (AWOL) following reports that some of the police scalawags have joined Chinese loan shark groups.

“It’s very important that if there are AWOL in the PNP, we monitor them,” PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said yesterday at a news briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Maj. Rannie Lumactod, operations management division chief of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), earlier said that former police and military officers are reportedly conniving with members of Chinese loan shark syndicates involved in the kidnapping of Chinese citizens in casinos in Metro Manila.

Asked if there were ranking police and military officials involved, Lumactod replied in the affirmative.

But Albayalde said they have yet to receive reports that there were former ranking officials who are part of these kidnap-for-ransom groups.

Albayalde said it is possible that corrupt former police and military officers have resorted to crime  to earn easy money.

Meanwhile, the AKG is training its personnel on handgun marksmanship to prepare them in the event of shootouts during law enforcement operations.

AKG spokesman Lt. Col. Elmer Cereno said they have so far trained 66 of their personnel for proper handling of firearms.

The three-day training is usually held every two months, Cereno added.