C. Visayas police chief clarifies statement on gun-for-hire cops

CEBU CITY – The chief of the Central Visayas Police Regional Office denied issuing a statement implicating retired and active police officers in gunfor-hire activities.

“I never said there are policemen serving as hitmen. What I said is that if there are policemen who are into gunfor-hire activities then they should be investigated,” Sinas said.

He issued the clarification after Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde directed him to go after policemen moonlighting as assassins for syndicates.

Sinas said he had cleared the matter with Albayalde. “I explained it to him that I never said those things. I was misinterpreted,” he said.

The issue cropped up after Sinas talked about the recent spate of killings when he graced a Facebook live interview by a local newspaper.

“These stories that policemen are involved in the spate of killings are all rumors. I did not say these accusations are conclusive and definite,” Sinas said.

He said the regional police force has yet to find evidence to prove the existence of gun-for-hire policemen.

Albayalde said PNP is taking exception to these allegations, saying that such illegal activities are not being tolerated.

Albayalde said erring policemen will face the full force of the law.

Sinas advised the public to review the interview to settle the matter. “What happened was lost in translation. I reviewed the interview, I spoke in Bisaya. I said ‘basin’ which means maybe. So nothing is absolute,” Sinas said. (Calvin D. Cordova)