IAS wants 7 cops in Antipolo drug sting dismissed

MANILA, Philippines – The Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has recommended the dismissal of a ranking police officer and six of his men, including the four lawmen tagged in the controversial drug raid that implicated resigned national police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, over another questionable anti-illegal drug operation in Antipolo this year. 

The PNP-IAS recommended the dismissal from the police service of Lt. Joven de Guzman and six of his subordinates over the anti-drug operation on May 4, 2019.

Also recommended for dismissal are MSgt Donald Roque, MSgt. Rommel Vital, Cpl. Romeo Guerrero, SSgt Stephen Domingo and Patrolmen Lester Velasco and Eduardo Soriano. 

Of the seven officers, De Guzman, Vital, Duque and Guerrero were also involved in the controversial drug sting in Pampanga in 2013 that implicated Albayalde. 

Albayalde and the 13 alleged “ninja cops” are facing back-to-back probes before the Senate and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, investigating the illicit practice of policemen recycling seized illegal drugs.

The resolution was signed by IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo on Oct. 10 and released recently.

The IAS found the officers guilty of several counts of grave misconduct, less grave misconduct, neglect of duty and conduct unbecoming of a police officer during the drug sting operation.

The IAS said they found inconsistencies in the anti-drug operation in relation to the recovered evidence and what was presented.

The respondent policemen supposedly went to the complainant’s house and got P66,300 in cash, which IAS said was tantamount to robbery.  

The IAS said De Guzman acted in complicity with his men in consummating the “dastardly acts that brought shame to the PNP’s reinvigorated campaign against illegal drugs” and that they all deserve maximum penalty for the offenses. 

Triambulo earlier aired concern that there was an apparent whitewash in the investigation on the 13 policemen implicated in the 2013 Pampanga drug sting but did not elaborate. 

A new set of administrative charges are set to be filed against the 13 lawmen accused of reselling illegal drugs worth around P650 million after the Mexico, Pampanga operation. They have been placed on floating status.