MANILA, Philippines — Five personnel at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Central Visayas Regional Training Center accused of corruption were relieved from their posts on Friday.
Training center director Col. Edwelito Rosales and four non-commissioned officers were ordered investigated over alleged unauthorized deductions of salaries and allowances of police recruits and other PNP personnel undergoing training at the facility, PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas said.
Sinas directed National Police Training Institute director Maj. Gen. Alex Sintin to file administrative cases and provide information to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for the filing of criminal charges against the police officers.
“The training center should be the most ideal place to shape the character of police recruits. It should maintain zero tolerance to graft and corruption,” Sinas said.
He said initial investigation by the PNP Intelligence Group showed that Rosales forced the trainees to pay overpriced uniforms, accoutrements and meals, which were deducted from their monthly salaries.
Around 1,000 students were allegedly forced to pay P10,080 each for two months worth of meals even though they were on vacation.
The students were also reportedly forced to pay a ”grossly overpriced” P3,650 for COVID-19 antigen tests.