19 MPD anti-drug cops sacked

MANILA, Philippines — All members of the drug enforcement unit of the Manila Police District (MPD) were relieved from their posts after some of the DEU members reportedly kidnapped two men in what was supposed to be an anti-narcotics operation.

Nineteen officers and personnel of the DEU were relieved amid allegations that seven of them forcibly took two men along Santisima street in Sampaloc on Sept. 9, MPD spokesman Maj. Philipp Ines said yesterday.

Instead of bringing the alleged drug suspects, identified only as Dwayne and Owen, to the MPD headquarters, the two were reportedly taken for a ride in Marikina and Rizal province.

The kidnapping was made public after Dwayne, who escaped from the police, filed administrative complaints against the suspects before the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

Ines said the MPD leadership sacked all police officers assigned with the DEU while an investigation is ongoing.

“The administrative complaint against the police personnel is rolling. We gave both parties due process,” Ines said at a press briefing at Camp Crame. “To be fair, we relieved the entire DEU, including its chief.”

Based on a report from the MPD, Owen was arrested for alleged possession of 112 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu valued at P156,800.

However, closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage obtained by the Napolcom did not show if illegal drugs were indeed recovered from Owen.

The Napolcom also found inconsistencies after the police personnel said they arrested Dwayne and Owen on Sept. 10 along Maceda street in Sampaloc. But CCTV footage showed that the two were taken the previous day.