PNP eyes transfer of IMEG under Internal Affairs Service

The IAS has long been seeking autonomy from the PNP to be able to fully perform its mandate of investigating and imposing sanctions on erring police officers. (PNA Photo)

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it plans to make an adjustment in the organizational structure of its office in charge of the implementation of anti-corruption and internal cleansing programs.

In a press briefing in Camp Crame Wednesday, PNP chief Gen.

Camilo Cascolan said he wants the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) to be placed under the operational control of the Internal Affairs Service (IAS).

“We are studying the possibility of putting the IMEG under operational control by IAS because we are leading IAS to become a civilian entity and just as I said, hopefully, it would soon be separated from the PNP so we won’t have any problems,” Cascolan said.

The IAS has long been seeking autonomy from the PNP to be able to fully perform its mandate of investigating and imposing sanctions on erring police officers.

Under the current organizational structure, all actions of the IAS are subject to review or can even be reversed by ranking police officials.

Meanwhile, Cascolan added that a total of 16,216 erring PNP personnel have been penalized from July 2016 until October 2020.

These include 4,681 personnel who were dismissed from the service, 870 demoted and 851 suspended.

A total of 518 PNP personnel, including 14 Police Commissioned Officers who were either involved and/or tested positive for use of illegal drugs are now the subject of validation and proceeding for their possible separation from the service without prejudice to the filing of administrative and criminal cases against them, he said.

Cascolan earlier ordered the conduct of a lifestyle check among police officers.

The move came after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Department of Justice to prosecute and file charges against those involved in corruption in all government offices.