2 of 5 police generals Duterte dropped linked to Mar's campaign

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Two of the five police generals who were named as drug protectors by President Rodrigo Duterte have been earlier identified with erstwhile Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas's campaign.

In his speech at the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force in Clark, Pampanga, Duterte named retired PNP Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr.; retired police General Vicente "Vic" Loot  who is now mayor in Daanbantayan town in Northern Cebu; former Region 6 police Director General Bernardo Diaz, whom he mistakenly identified as former Region 11 director;  National Capital Region Police Office chief Joel Pagdilao; and former Quezon City Police Director Edgardo Tinio.

"I am compelled by my sense of duty na sabihin sa inyo lahat. Lalo na yung mga police na nasabit sa droga, one way or another who contributed to the deterioration of the law and order of this country," Duterte explaining his boldness.

"Ito yung mga tao who were given the honor to join the academies of our country, the PNP or the PMA, at the expense of the public, and they had this kind of career there. All along, tayong mga mamamayan thought that we were being protected by the police primarily. Masakit pakinggan kasi, ginastusan mo na, binayaran mo pag-aaral nya, lahat ng uniporme pati medyas at sapatos gastos mo. By any language, it is really treason," Duterte described upon giving the relief order of the mentioned police generals involved in drugs.

"Huwag ninyong lokohin ang bayan sa panahon ko kasi hindi ako papayag. That goes for all," he added.

Diaz and Garbo along with three other police officers have previously been in the news after being spotted by a group of journalists in a closed-door meeting with supporters of Roxas at the height of the election campaign.

READ: 4 active police generals seen with Mar supporter

With them at the Araneta-owned Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City were Director Generoso Cerbo Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) directorate for intelligence, Chief Superintendents Renier Idio, and Ronald Santos, deputy regional director for administration of the Southern Tagalog police.

Roxas had denied that he met the generals, saying his staff knew them while he was serving as chief of the Department of Interior and Local Government. "They just had a chat, that's about it," Roxas said in a previous report.

In another interview by CNN Philippines, Tinio denied that he has been involved in any illegal drug activity saying his focus was on police operations when he was the QC Police Director.

"I will report to the chief PNP and I am willing to subject myself for investigation, I am not hiding anything," Tinio said.

Diaz, in a radio interview also denied the accusation.

"Pwede niyo pong i-check ang aking record. Alam po ng Diyos ang totoo. Bukas na bukas po ay magrereport ako sa Camp Crame, kay police director general Dela Rosa para i-presenta ang aking sarili," he said.

The mentioned generals were ordered by the president relieved from their duty, they were also ordered to meet with the PNP chief.

"I would like to talk to them but certainly, I would expect the police commission to do their thing. Imbestigahan ninyo ito at huwag niyo akong bigyan ng sarswela," Duterte said.