Whole Talisay City police force relieved over alleged drug links

MANILA, Philippines — The entire police force of Talisay City was relieved from office effective Sunday after being tagged in the illegal drug trade by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Central Visayas police office director Debold Sinay announced the cops’ dismissal from office on Sunday. Only the city’s police chief, Marlu Conag, was exempted from the relief order.

The Freeman reported that the Talisay cops also underwent a surprise drug test.

LATEST: Talisay City police in Cebu, who were relieved due to 'drug links', undergo surprise drug test. | via @camilleTFBanat pic.twitter.com/Eo6E7Gdefo

— The Freeman (@TheFreemanNews) September 2, 2018

The move was made two weeks after Duterte warned officials and suspected drug personalities in Talisay City and Cebu, including Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot, that he would go after them.

“Gaya ng Talisay, p***i*** ‘yang Talisay na ‘yan. Mahurot mo diha Hinay-hinay... (You in Talisay, p***i*** this Talisay, until you’re all finished off slowly, almost all of you),” Duterte said in a speech during the conference of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines Visayas Island Cluster last August 21.

“Pulis ninyo, diri Cebu? Puro adik. Halos tanan. Hasta inyong mga opisyal. Hasta inyong mga PDEA. Imbis na taas na ang rango ang p***i*** niya, mao pa'y distributor pa hinuon (The Cebu police are all addicts, even your officials and your PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency). Instead of earning a high rank, this p***i***, he’s the distributor),” he added.

Duterte also addressed a Cebuano official without mentioning the name.

Kaya mga Cebuano, tingnan ninyo kung anong nangyari. P**** i**, opisyal ka ng… (Cebuanos look at what’s happening. P**** i**,  you’re an official...) That’s treason. If you are with PDEA, with the military and the police nandiyan ka (you are there),” Duterte said in mixed English and Visayan language.

The president warned these officials anew to not test his patience citing that he is nearing his end.

“Huwag sa panahon ko. P***** i** ninyo, mamamatay kayo. (Not in my time. . P***** i**, you will die),” Duterte warned.

The Freeman reported that the cops relieved from office would be replaced by 70 police officers from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion.

LOOK: 70 cops from Regional Mobile Force Battalion to replace Talisay City cops who were relieved due to 'drug links' | via @camilleTFBanat pic.twitter.com/MJUYzOvMcY

— The Freeman (@TheFreemanNews) September 2, 2018

— Rosette Adel