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Napolcom: Probe, decision on 'narco generals' done within a month

July 6, 2016 | 10:09am

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 12:11 p.m.) – The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has formed a team to probe the five high-ranking police officials publicly named by President Rodrigo Duterte as being involved in the illegal drug trade, an official said on Wednesday.

Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao said the commission took the initiative to probe the five generals -- Retired Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., Director Joel Pagdilao, Chief Superintendents Bernardo Diaz and Edgardo Tinio, and retired Chief Superintendent Vicente “Vic” Loot since it was a direct order from the president.

A police chief superintendent has an equivalent rank of a military brigadier general.

“A few minutes after his (Duterte) pronouncement, we immediately constituted a team to investigate all these generals who were named during the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force in Pampanga,” Casurao said in a televised press conference.

The police officials have denied that they are involved in illegal drugs. During the campaign, Duterte had hinted that three police generals will have to resign because of their involvement in drugs. He warned that resignation would be better but that he would be forced to name them if they stay in the service.

Napolcom Vice Chhairman Casurao explained that the commission will only focus on the three respondents who are still in the active service since it can only handle administrative cases.

Garbo's case is going to be a concern of the Department of Interior and Local Government while the case of Loot, who is currently the mayor of Daanbantayan, Cebu, will be handled by the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation.

According to a Philippines News Agency report, the DOJ is ready to investigate the generals as well.

DOJ officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said they would not want to be identified because of the possibility that the cases to be filed against the said PNP generals will be assigned to them.

They noted that the cases against government officials who are being accused of corruption are frequently filed before the DOJ.

Investigation and dismissal within a month

The Napolcom official added that since the president was very clear that he does not want the investigation to drag on and “becomes a subject for public scrutiny” they expect the whole proceeding to end within a month.

“We are assuring now the public that the investigation to be conducted by the Napolcom is going to be a 'straight-ahead' investigation,” Casurao said.

“In fact, the directive given to the investigation team is that they should complete the investigation within the seven days and then after that we should go into the actual summary dismissal proceedings. That’s why we are estimating by way of timeline that we could complete the entire process within a month’s time,” he added.

Casurao said that under Napolcom rules, it can decide based on position papers instead of having the respondents attend hearings. He said he expects the commission en banc to come up with a resolution on the administrative cases.

“There are steps to be taken. We are now in the validation stage. Under our rules, we can decide based on position papers we do not have to call them for an actual confrontation actually but their answers which are verified answers can served as basis for any decision that we might come up with,” Casurao said.

The Napolcom said that the accused generals are free to retire but their benefits will be delayed. He added that the worst penalty that they face in the administrative cases is dismissal from service.

He explained that the officials were relieved from service but they are not yet suspended “until after the proper proceedings are undertaken that will warrant their suspension or removal from service.”

Casurao said that due process will be observed. -- with a report from PNA