Two Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCOs) assigned at the Regional Special Training Unit (RSTU) Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR) are now in hot water after the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) pressed charges for alleged violations of Article 294 (5), Simple Robbery (Extortion) of the Revised Penal Code, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard.

            The PNP IMEG, thru its Director PBGEN WARREN F DE LEON, announced today that after their validation and case build-up, joint teams from IMEG-Mindanao Field Unit, in coordination with PLTCOL MICHAEL JOHN DELOSO, Chief, RSTU BAR, had filed charges against PSSG Mark Anthony Palma and Pat John Gerald Tucas.

            “With the implementation of Oplan Bansay or Bantay sa Pagsasanay, our Training Internal Cleansing program, we were able to gather information on the alleged extortion activity perpetrated by these two active PNCOs who were supposed to be the role models of the trainees being their trainers and mentors while undergoing the Basic Internal Security Operations Course (BISOC).” PBGEN DE LEON said.

            Based on the information report received by the IMEG-Mindanao Field Unit, on September 2, 2022, an alleged extortion activity transpired involving the trainees of BISOC in RSTU BAR. Accordingly, the two Trainers allegedly demanded PhP 60,000.00 from the BISOC Students in exchange for a more lenient treatment accorded to their class during the course of the training. The BISOC Battalion Commander and the Class Treasurer eventually gave in to the demands of their Trainers and the said amount was withdrawn from the Class Fund and was later given separately to these two PNCOs, were each of them received the PhP30,000.00 on August 27, 2022 inside PSSg Palma’s car parked at Mall of Alnor (MOA) in Cotabato City.

After series of validation and eventual case build-up, on September 5, 2022, criminal charges have been referred at the City Prosecutors Office of Cotabato City for Preliminary Investigation and these complaints were docketed as NPS Docket Nos. 2022- 03935 and 2022- 03936 against these two RSTU BAR personnel. Likewise, administrative complaint for Grave Misconduct, and Two Counts of Conduct Unbecoming of a Police Officer defined under NAPOLCOM Memorandum Circular No. 2016-002 was referred to the Regional Internal Affairs Service Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (RIAS-BAR) for Pre-Charge Investigation. “I commend the efforts of our personnel from the Mindanao Field Unit for this notable accomplishment as part of our attempt to convey our “Malasakit” to our brothers in uniform in line with CPNP’s policy framework M+K+K=K. This is a manifestation and a warning to all PNP personnel that scalawags do not have a place in the organization more so in training institutions which is the breeding ground for the future leaders of the country.” AD, IMEG added. #####