Palace backs lifestyle check on PNP personnel

“There should be an internal lifestyle check among the PNP members, and for that matter, all heads of department,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in an interview over ANC on Monday. (File Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA — Malacañang is in favor of conducting lifestyle checks among Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel following reports that there are cops allegedly involved in the recycling of illegal drugs.

“There should be an internal lifestyle check among the PNP members, and for that matter, all heads of department,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in an interview over ANC on Monday.

“He (President Rodrigo Duterte) wants the truth — who are the people involved; how are they involved,” he added.

Panelo said the lifestyle check could be conducted by the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the PNP.

“It will help because — if you can see that there are people there who are not supposed to be having this kind of wealth,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing on Monday.

He also assured that the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) specific to the alleged involvement of PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde will also include other police personnel.

Earlier, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año assured that the results of the investigation on Albayalde will be out before his retirement on November 8.

Año said he would await the result of the Senate blue ribbon committee inquiry into the “ninja cops” before coming up with a recommendation.

Duterte, who just returned from a five-day official visit to Russia, said he fully entrusts the matter to Año and would not rely on presumptions.

“Give me a clear proof that he was there on the take or was involved in the trafficking of drugs. I could not just do it in a knee jerk. I have to follow procedural due process and allow him to answer. The right to be heard. It’s given to the criminals, to the kidnappers. It should be given to a general of the Philippine National Police,” Duterte said.

No details

Panelo, meanwhile, said Duterte has yet to give details on two colonels who are allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

“Wala siyang in-elaborate. Sinabi niya lang na iyong Superintendent, akala niya Chief Superintendent iyon — eh colonel pala iyon. So sinabi niya walang involved na generals (He didn’t elaborate. He just said superintendent, he thought it was chief superintendent but they are actually colonels. So he said there are no generals involved),” Panelo said.

Duterte earlier bared that there were two police officials allegedly involved in the drug trade but admitted that he was confused by the old rank classification of the PNP.

Asked if Duterte would name the two colonels eventually, Panelo said it was the President’s call.