News Commentary

Who's who: 5 cops tagged in illegal drug trade

Philstar.com

July 5, 2016 | 6:04pm

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday named five police generals involved in illegal drug trade and ordered them relieved prior to investigation.

READ: Duterte names 5 PNP generals allegedly involved in illegal drugs

Here are quick profiles of the officials tagged by the president.

Bernardo Diaz

Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz was appointed director of Police Regional Office 6 of Western Visayas by then PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina in June 2015. He replaced Josephus Angan who was retiring from service. Before the appointment, Diaz was deputy director of the Cagayan Valley Police Office. In April this year during the campaign period, Diaz was among the four police officials allegedly seen in the company of men linked to Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas. Diaz called the allegations malicious. Last week, Diaz was among the casualties of the PNP revamp led by newly appointed Director General Roland "Bato" Dela Rosa.

Marcelo Garbo

Former PNP deputy director general Marcelo Garbo Jr. retired in March after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 years old. Garbo was a contender for the PNP top post after the resignation of former PNP chief Alan Purisima but former President Benigno Aquino appointed Ricardo Marquez. Garbo openly supported the presidential bid of Liberal Party's Mar Roxas. Last April, four police generals in active service were seen in the company of Garbo and a staff of Roxas. The police generals may face charges of electioneering or violation of the PNP ethical standards for meeting with Roxas supporters. Cerbo belongs to the Philippine Military Academy Class '84, where Roxas was adopted as a mistah or classmate.

Vicente Loot

Retired police general Vicente "Vic" Loot was elected as mayor of Daanbantayan, Cebu in the May 9 elections. Loot won over former Mayor Augusto Corro by a slim margin of seven votes. This prompted Corro to file an electoral protest against Loot. The Daanbantayan mayor retired from the PNP on July 2015 after serving the police force for 37 years. He last held a directorship post at the PNP Training Service.

Joel Pagdilao

National Capital Regional Police Office Director Joel Pagdilao served as Quezon City Police District director before taking over as Metro Manila police chief. Pagdilao was among the four police generals who were not given specific assignments since new PNP chief Rosa took command last week. Along with Cerbo, Pagdilao was also seen in the company of Roxas at a hotel in Quezon City. He also belongs to PMA Class '84.

Edgardo Tinio

Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio was director of the Quezon City Police District just two weeks ago reported hundreds of individuals confessing to the use and sale of illegal drugs a few days before Duterte assumed office. Tinio said the surrender of the suspects was through Oplan Katok, an operation wherein cops worked with barangay officials to win over residents linked to the drug trade. He was named chief of Quezon City police in July 2015, before which he was director of Pampanga police. He was also assigned at the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in South Luzon.

As of press time, Diaz, Loot and Tinio have denied the allegations of the president in connection to their involvement in illegal drug trade. — Patricia Lourdes Viray and Camille Diola