Lacson commends PNP for ‘stepping up’ drive vs. criminal cops

The arrest of three police officers accused of kidnap-for-ransom activities and the removal of the entire Police Community Precinct (PCP) in Western Bicutan 1 are the result of the Philippine National Police's increased drive to cleanse its ranks, Senator Panfilo Lacson said.

In a tweet, the senator said that the "almost daily arrests of mulcting cops in the NCR" may make it look as if "police corruption has become ubiquitous."

Lacson said, however, that he has a different take on the situation.

"My take is, the PNP leadership has stepped up their drive against the rogues within their ranks. They should be commended," he said.

The three cops were arrested together while another one was killed in an encounter between police and alleged erring police officers in Barangay West Bicutan on Tuesday morning.

A police spot report said PO1 Gererdo Ancheta was killed in the entrapment operation initiated by the Taguig City Police after one of the victims alerted officials of the crime.

PO2 Joey Maru, the alleged leader of the group, was arrested with PO1 Bryan Amir Bajoof and PO1 Paolo Ocampo in the same operation by Taguig 's Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) and Special Operations Unit.

The suspects were identified as active police officers assigned to Precinct 1 of Western Bicutan.

The relief of the entire precinct does not mean that everyone belonging to it is linked to the criminal activity, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar said.

"Hindi natin sinasabi na lahat sila ay involved pero tingnan natin, imbestigahan natin. Talagang medyo nakakapanlumo din 'yung pangyayari na itong apat na ito ay they were involved in robbery-extortion and kidnap for ransom kagabi sa dalawang separate na incidents," he added.

Eleazar said that the cops removed from the Bicutan precinct will for the time being be moved to the regional headquarters support group in Camp Bagong Diwa. — BM, GMA News