Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Guillermo Eleazar today tasked the Internal Affairs Service to fast track the dismissal proceedings against a non-uniformed personnel in Sulu who turned out to be a finance and logistics liaison officer for the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
Eleazar said Masckur Adoh Patarasa, an NUP assigned with the Banguingui Municipal Police Station in Sulu was arrested in an operation last Friday, July 30, and is the subject of arrest warrants for seven cases of Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention. Patarasa was also included in the Martial Law Arrest Order no. 1 at the height of the Marawi siege in 2017.
“Inatasan ko ang IAS na madaliin ang summary dismissal proceedings upang agad na matanggal bilang NUP si Patarasa habang hinaharap sa korte ang patong-patong na kaso laban sa kanya,” he said.
The PNP Chief said further investigation is being conducted to determine if there are other PNP personnel involved with the Abu Sayyaf.
“Patuloy ang imbestigasyon kay NUP Patarasa para malaman kung mayroon pang ibang PNP personnel na kasapi ng bandidong Abu Sayyaf Group,” Eleazar said.
“Hindi malayo ang posibilidad na may iba pa siyang kasama kaya dito nakatutok ang ating follow-up investigation. Kasabay nito, aalamin din natin kung ano-ano ang mga kasong kinasangkutan nila,” he added.
“Atin din aalamin kung paano nakapasok sa PNP itong si Patarasa na sangkatutak pala ang mga arrest warrants at kasong kinakaharap kaugnay ng kanyang pagiging miyembro ng Abu Sayyaf,” the PNP Chief said. Patarasa, it was discovered, has been a member of the Abu Sayyaf since 2001.
Citing Patarasa’s case, PGen Eleazar stressed the importance of cleansing police ranks from the start or during the recruitment process.
“Isa ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit sinasala nating mabuti ngayon ang mga pumapasok sa PNP, mapa-pulis o civilian employee,” Eleazar stressed.