3 ranking GenSan cops ordered relieved over 'paluwagan' scam

The head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde to relieve three high ranking police officers in General Santos City due to their alleged involvement in a P2-billion investment scam.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, DILG spokesman Jonathan Malaya identified the relieved police officers as:

• Police Colonel Manuel M. Lukban, Jr.,
• Police Colonel Raul S. Supiter, and
• Police Colonel Henry P. Biñas

"Secretary [Eduardo] Año said this is necessary to prevent them from possibly interfering and influencing the contact of a formal investigation on the police paluwagan movement (PPM) investment scam allegedly run by the three officers and some of the uniformed and non-uniformed personnel of the General Santos City police," Malaya said.

Initial investigation showed that the PPM investment scam has attracted various sectors of the community in Region 12 including prosecutors, judges, entrepreneurs, and ordinary civilians due to its “very tempting big interest offered by the group.”

According to the DILG, the PPM offers 60 percent interest rate every 15 days to the money invested by investors.

Malaya said Año already ordered the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to look into the alleged investment scam.

Around 30 police personnel and civilians are involved in the scam, Malaya said. —KBK, GMA News