Probe up vs Iloilo City cops partying with drug suspect

CEBU, Philippines - The Iloilo City Police Office confirmed that it has started an investigation against one of its station commanders and several other policemen who were seen at an event with a known drug personality, identified as Arian Orbe.

Senior Superintendent Remus Zacharias Canieso, Iloilo City Police chief, said he wanted to be elucidated about the presence of Chief Inspector Rio Maymay, chief of the Iloilo City Police Station 1, and several other policemen at a party at Mandurriao district, where Orbe was also present, and allegedly hosted by a policeman identified only as Novenario.

Orbe, alias Pal-ak, of Bakhaw village in Mandurriao, was later arrested by elements of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group-6.

The 39-year-old suspect had three arrest warrants, issued by Judge Rose Edith Rogonon of Regional Trial Court-branch 25 in Iloilo City, for illegal drugs charges.

“I want to know whether it was just a matter of coincidence that they attended the same event or did they know each other prior to that,” Canieso said.

Among those who attended the party were members of the Iloilo Station Anti-Illegal Drugs (SAID) but Canieso refused to name them or from which station they were assigned.

Canieso said he was puzzled why the policemen tried to avoid RAIDSOTG during the raid. “Why be afraid of your fellow police officers?” he said stating that some policemen in the party scampered upon seeing the team that served the warrants on Orbe.

Maymay and the other policemen are expected to submit a written explanation within the week. “From there, we would evaluate the merit of their explanation,” Canieso added.

Further, while investigation is doing on, Canieso confirmed that subject policemen have been disarmed. “It’s a procedure that they have to surrender their firearm,” he added.

Orbe had been a subject of several anti-illegal drugs operations in the past. Canieso said the suspect was listed in the regional watchlist of illegal drug personalities.

The suspect is the nephew of Barangay Captain Remia Gregory of Bakhaw village, an area which earlier earned the tag as one of Iloilo City’s drug haven. (FREEMAN)