Crackdown on erring policemen to continue

CEBU, Philippines — The National Intelligence Council Agency (NICA)-7 is committed to continue President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown on police scalawags and to cleanse the government of all forms of corruption.

“It will be a continuing effort. The administration is keen on three things— criminality, drugs and corruption,” NICA-7 Chief Augusto Marquez Jr. told reporters yesterday.

Marquez, a retired police official, said all government employees, including cops, are expected to uphold the integrity of a public servant.

Marquez said that when the Philippine National Police started its internal cleansing, policemen with alleged involvement in illegal drugs were transferred.

He explained that the transfer was meant to cut off the connections of the erring cops.

“In 2016 and 2017, they were transferred to other regions to stop their network and it was effective,” he said.

As a newly-installed NICA-7 chief, Marquez made a stern warning to rogue police officers not to engage in illegal drug activities.

Marquez, a former directorate for Investigation and Detective Management at Camp Crame, said NICA will go after the rogue cops.

“What we will do is to consolidate lists and ask respective chiefs of the situation,” he said.

He hopes the police chiefs in the region continue monitoring their subordinates and foil any wrongdoing. — KBQ (FREEMAN)