The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has found probable cause to indict Director Joel Pagdilao and Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio – two of five police officers linked by President Duterte to the illegal drug trade.

Charges of serious neglect of duty, serious irregularity in the conduct of duty and conduct unbecoming of a police officer with penalties ranging from suspension to dismissal from the service were slapped against the two generals.

Pagdilao was the former director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) while Tinio formerly headed the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).  The two officials denied the allegations against them.

Lawyer Johnson Reyes, service director of Napolcom’s Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) said their findings would be forwarded and filed before the commission’s En Banc.

The IMIS recommended the filing of charges against Pagdilao and Tinio after circumstantial, testimonial and direct evidence gathered were deemed strong to charge the two generals administratively.

But Reyes said they found no evidence that the two generals “had a direct participation as protector of drug syndicates.”

Before filing the administrative case before the Commission En Banc, Reyes explained a Presidential Clearance must first be secured through the Executive Secretary as Pagdilao and Tinio are presidential appointees.

Two ad hoc committees will also be formed to receive and analyze the position papers that would be submitted by the two police officials before being coursed through the En Banc for resolution after a “trial type proceedings.”

He added that Pagdilao and Tinio may also file a motion for reconsideration (MR) if the commission En Banc upholds IMIS’ findings while the criminal charges against them will be filed through the Department of Justice (DoJ).

Interior Secretary Mike Sueno said they are still finalizing the case against Director Bernardo Diaz, the third active PNP official whom the President linked to illegal drugs.

Sueno said they “have the goods” against Diaz.

As for ex-PNP training service head Chief Superintendent Vicente Loot who is now Mayor of Daanbantayan town in Cebu, Sueno said his security detail has been removed and so is his supervision over the police.  The PNP  also cancelled his permit to own guns and currently undergoing a lifestyle check.

Meanwhile the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is investigating the accusation against retired General Marcelo Garbo.

The Department of Justice has started its probe against the five narco-generals.

12 KILLED, 25 WOUNDED

At the resumption of the Senate hearing on extrajudicial killings, PNP Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said law enforcers are also victims in the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

“Our own people are also victims, they are also killed. This is just to illustrate that there is indeed a clear danger on the lives of our men in the operations against illegal drugs,” Dela Rosa told senators.

Citing latest PNP figures, De la Rosa said nine police operatives and three soldiers have already been killed and an over-all 25 personnel wounded in anti-drug operations.

 “This is just to illustrate that there is indeed a clear danger on the lives of our men in the operations against illegal drugs,” he emphasized using a Power Point presentation.

But as figures soar, Dela Rosa reported a 31 percent decrease in index crimes which indicates success in the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

He said under the PNP’s “double barrel” campaign, the police were able to persuade a total of 673,978 drug personalities to surrender and undergo processing at the police stations. The total number of users and pushers arrested are now at 11,784 while those killed in legitimate police operations total to 756.

“And contrary to the perception of some sectors of the society, the Police Operations in Double Barrel  would show that the focus  is really on the Project Tokhang or in the conduct of house visitations  in order to persuade users and pushers to stop with their illegal activity as there are more surrenders and arrested than killed Drug Personalities as a result of the police operations,” he said.

De la Rosa also said one high value target named Mico Tan was killed during the conduct of a police operation while 32 were arrested, nine of whom are Chinese nationals.

Of the 756 killed in legitimate operations, 569 are under investigation by the PNP-Internal Affairs Services (IAS).   The lack of manpower has made it difficult for the agency to probe all cases.

The PNP Chief said the general public has expressed appreciation and strong support for the anti-drugs campaign.

NO ENCROACHMENT

Meanwhile, Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito expressed strong reservations yesterday that the on-going Senate inquiry into alleged summary killings of persons linked to the illegal drug trade by law enforcement agents might encroach on similar investigations by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Ejercito and Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson expressed their concern that the Senate probe may cause the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign to lose momentum.

“I’m just worried and I am hoping that this would not hamper or stop the momentum of the Philippine National Police and other agencies in the war against drugs,” Ejercito said.

“You know, it’s only now. This is unprecedented because I have been a mayor myself for nine years, and this is the first time… that the PNP is gaining so much ground in its war against drugs,” he added.

Ejercito said he wants to make sure that there is no possible encroachment of jurisdiction by the Senate as the CHR and other agencies are already investigating the alleged extra-judicial killings.(With reports from Mario B. Casayuran and Jeffrey G. Damicog)

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Chito A. Chavez and Hannah L. Torregoza

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