CONFLICT OF INTEREST?: 9 PRO-6 cops in quarry ops under review

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

At least nine personnel from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) are involved in legal quarry operations in Western Visayas, with regional police leadership now reviewing whether a conflict of interest exists that would warrant their reassignment.

PRO-6 acting director Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said Monday, June 8, that the Regional Intelligence Division has been coordinating with the Iloilo Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and concerned local government units (LGU) as part of an ongoing investigation.

“In our ongoing investigation, there are nine PNP personnel from the PRO-6, but their involvement in quarrying is legal. In this nine, we have five commissioned officers and four non-commissioned officers,” he said.

Tuaño said authorities are still determining whether any of the nine police personnel operate quarry businesses in the same LGU where they are assigned.

He maintained that police officers are not prohibited from engaging in legitimate business activities, provided those activities are legal, properly permitted, and do not interfere with their official duties.

“Generally, the PNP does not prohibit its members from having legitimate business,” he said.

“But there are caveats. First, they have to be in a legal business; second, they have a permit in their quarry, and it does not affect their respective work and functions as PNP personnel,” he added.

Asked whether a police officer operating a quarry business in the same jurisdiction where he is assigned constitutes a conflict of interest, Tuaño said the matter is still being evaluated.

He added that authorities would revisit existing policies and guidelines before making any determination, particularly regarding personnel found to be operating legally.

“Conflict of interest arises if their personal business activities affect the performance of their official duties, even if those businesses are legitimate. If there is a need to reassign them, we will leave that decision to the committee,” Tuaño said.

The committee is composed of representatives from the PGENRO, MGB, and the concerned LGU. It will determine whether any violations have been committed, Tuaño said.

“The PNP will remain in the investigation and law enforcement operations,” he said.

Earlier, Tuaño said authorities were still validating reports that some police personnel may be involved in illegal quarrying activities, including whether those being implicated are among the officers already engaged in legal quarry operations.

“If our personnel are conducting legitimate activities and are being linked to these allegations, that would not be fair to them either,” he added.