2 ‘narco generals’ to face trial – Napolcom

MANILA, Philippines - There is prima facie evidence to justify the filing of criminal charges against two of three active police generals publicly tagged by President Duterte as protectors of drug syndicates, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno announced yesterday.

“There’s prima facie evidence for a trial, to start a trial,” Sueno said, citing findings by the National Police Commission (Napolcom), which is under his department.

While Sueno declined to name the two generals, his statement hinted they could be former National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Joel Pagdilao and former Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio.

“For the three generals who are still on duty, we are ready for the two. Two, because they are here in the National Capital Region and we have gotten evidence,” SueNo said.

For the third police general, apparently referring to former Western Visayas police director Chief Supt. Bernardo Diaz, he said they are still gathering evidence against him.

Duterte named Pagdilao, Tinio and Diaz, as well as retired PNP deputy director general Marcelo Garbo and police chief superintendent Vicente Loot, who is now the mayor of Daanbantayan in Cebu, as top-level protectors of drug lords operating in the country. The five officials denied the allegations and declared they were willing to face any official investigation in order to clear their names.

Duterte earlier said more police officers as well as local executives were involved in illegal drugs and that evidence were being readied against them.

The Napolcom earlier promised to finish its investigation on the three active police generals within a month, a deadline it was able to meet.

In the case of Garbo, SueNo said it is up to the courts to deal with his case through the Department of Justice. 

On the other hand, the DILG would take care of Loot, the latter being an elected official.

Sueno said that while they have already built evidence against the two active generals, Napolcom would have to complete first its investigation on the third general so they could be prosecuted together. He said the results of the probe should be out in seven to 10 days.