Lifestyle check on cops; five under investigation

The Police Regional Office will conduct a “lifestyle” check among all its officers and personnel to determine if they had accumulated some “unexplained wealth.”

Supt. Henry Biñas, head of the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Branch, said a committee is tasked to monitor and review the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) of all police officers in the region.

While the Ombudsman is primarily tasked to conduct lifestyle checks on all government employees, Biñas said they can also conduct a separate investigation on policemen.

“We want to know whether or not a policeman’s wealth is commensurate with his or her income. The SALN can provide us with information,” he told reporters yesterday.

At least five police officers in Cebu province are being probed for allegedly owning “questionable” properties.

The names of these policemen were already submitted to the PRO-7 for further investigation but have been kept confidential for now.

Senior Insp. Leo Logroño of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) said the five officers are reportedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

Biñas said they would validate the report and ask these officers to explain if necessary.

“If the properties they accumulated won’t correspond to their income, there’s a presumption that they acquired them through illegal means,” he said.

Biñas said there are, however, some policemen who placed their properties under the names of their relatives or parents to avoid scrutiny.

If they sensed some irregularities, he said the PRO-7 can conduct a motu proprio investigation against policemen.

Incoming PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa said he will order a lifestyle check among policemen to identify and remove those who are engaged in illegal activities.