CCPO probing info on 10 cops receiving weekly drug payola

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Police Office is now validating a claim of an informant that 10 policemen in a precinct in Cebu City are receiving weekly payola from drug pushers.

Senior Superintendent Joel Doria, CCPO director, said a team has been created to carry out the validation process.

“Although wala pa namang formal complaint, information lang naman ‘yon from a concerned citizen, but we are still conducting validation,” he told reporters.

The team is spearheaded by the Regional Intelligence Division and the City Intelligence Branch.

Doria said once the allegation is proven to be true, they will take appropriate actions against the erring officials as part of the internal cleansing in the police hierarchy.

While the validation is being conducted, the police officers of Pardo Police Station who were accused of receiving money will continue reporting in the police precinct, he added.

 “Tingnan muna” natin ang outcome ng validation,’ he said.

The 10 police officers of Pardo Police Station have allegedly been receiving P10,000 a week, according to the claim of an informant. Among those implicated was the newly appointed Pardo Police chief, Senior Inspector Robert Lucernas, who denied the allegation.

Lucernas started serving as Pardo police chief since July this year.

Aside from the internal investigation of the police, the Office of the Ombudsman recently created a task force which is now checking on the lifestyles of government officials including police officials who are linked to the illegal drugs activities.

The investigation covers local officials who are alleged to be protectors of the illegal drug trade. It also involves the review on the declared wealth of the public officials in their statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

The investigation came amid allegations that some members of the Philippine National Police and other government officials are involved in illegal drugs.

 A drug matrix submitted by self-confessed drug personality Franz Sabalones alleged that the weekly payout to the 18 policemen and one Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency team leader amounted to P507,000. (FREEMAN)