2 alleged narco-generals dismissed from PNP

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has dismissed two police generals for their supposed failure to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs in their respective areas.

In an order signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last Thursday, the President sacked Police Director Joel Pagdilao and Police Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio, two of the security officers he earlier accused of protecting drug syndicates.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the two are administratively liable for serious neglect of duty and serious irregularity in the performance of duty.

“Evidence shows that both generals deliberately refused, without cause, to perform their duties as police officers resulting in the proliferation of the drug trade in their areas of jurisdiction. Thus, the President’s decision,” he added.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronaldo dela Rosa said the dismissal went through due process, citing an investigation done by the National Police Commission.

The process, he added, took a year.

Pagdilao is a Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class ’84 graduate and former chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, while Tinio is a member of PMA class ’85 and former chief of the Quezon City Police District.

Both stand to lose their benefits from the years they served the police force.

Asked if criminal charges would be filed against them, Abella said: “We cannot speculate on what are the next steps of the President.”

“He said that this is an apparatus. And that these are interlinked with other personalities. It seems that by default, they did not exercise any authority over these personalities,” Abella added.

Aside from Pagdilao and Tinio, the President also tagged retired police deputy director general Marcelo Garbo Jr., retired police general and newly elected Daanbantayan town mayor Vicente Loot and Western Visayas regional director Chief Supt. Bernardo Diaz.

All five denied having ties with drug lords and believe that Duterte was given wrong information.

Malacañang also hailed the dismissal of Police Supt. Lito Cabamongan, who was caught in a shabu session in Las Piñas last March.

“The dismissal from service of (Cabamongan), head of the Alabang satellite office of the Philippine National Police crime laboratory, highlights the efforts to rid the ranks of misfits and scalawags that destroy the integrity of the entire organization,” Abella said.

“The removal of a high-ranking officer serves as a strong reminder to the uniformed personnel to honor and to uphold always their sworn duty to serve and protect our people and our country,” he added.

Cabamongan was dismissed from service last month after he was found guilty of conduct unbecoming of a police officer.