Nothing irregular in cellphones of 14 cops who allegedly brought it inside NBP

November 5, 2019

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday said the Philippine National Police- Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) did not find irregularities in the cellphones confiscated from the 14 cops who allegedly tried to bring it inside New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

In a press briefing, Police Brigadier General Debold Sinas said messages for their families and friends were found in the policemen's cellphones.

“Based on investigators account, all (cellphones) have... conversation. What we are looking for is a cellphone with new SIM and does not have any conversation,” said Sinas, acting NCRPO director.

“All the cellphones have interactions. It has discussions with family and friends so more or less this is for personal use. We don’t find any irregularity there,” he added.

It can be recalled that the 14 cops were part of 16 police officers who were allegedly caught trying to sneak illegal items inside NBP.

“We conducted of course a background check and according to our intel people, we didn’t find any anomaly on their lifestyles,” he said.

In previous briefings, Sinas said according to the cops, they arrived late for formation that’s why they failed to give their cellphones for accounting.

Despite finding no irregularities, the acting NCRPO chief said they will still face minor offenses.

“We will still file a case against them...one of which is not following specific instruction not to bring cellphones,” said Sinas.

After they finish the investigation, Sinas said the 14 cops can go back at work as they need more people for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

But the four cops who sneaked in cigarettes and liquos will still face grave offenses.

“We are just waiting for the... findings from PNP- Crime Laboratory. Once we have it, I think the investigation will be finished,” he said.

Sinas said he will not file cases against the policemen at the Internal Affairs Service.

“It is within my authority, I could do that on my own. I want to discipline my men,” he said.

Because of this incident, Sinas said je doesn’t want to send cops to the national penitentiary.

“For me personally, if it’s allowed, we will not deploy cops there because we have a different duty but because the BuCor ((Bureau of Corrections) chief needs our help we just orient our people so that in a short time they can man (their post) there,” he said.

Sinas clarified he is happy to assist BuCor.

“I did not say I don’t want (to deploy), I’m happy to assist BuCor. What I said is if the time will come and the police will be always at fault and become a problem there. Might as well remove them,” he said.

Sinas said they implemented some strategies so this will not happen again in the NBP. Ella Dionisio/DMS