Duterte names top cops allegedly involved in illegal drugs trade

Update

CLARK, Pampanga – President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday named top police officials allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade or protection of drug syndicates.

“I am compelled by my sense of duty to tell you the police who contributed to deterioration of law and order in this country,” Duterte said in his speech at the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force here.

Duterte tagged former Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy director Gen. Marcelo Garbo Jr., Gen. Vicente Loot, Gen. Bernardo Diaz of Police Regional Office 6, former National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Joel Pagdilao, and  former  Quezon City Police District (QCPD) chief Edgardo Tinio

Garbo and Loot are already retired; the other three are still on active duty. Loot is incumbent mayor of Daanbantayan town in Cebu.

Duterte mentioned in his speech that Diaz was from Region 11.

“As of this time, I order them relieved from their assignments and report to the Director General (Ronald dela Rosa),” Duterte said.

NCRPO Regional Director Joel Pagdilao, Gen Vicente Loot, QCPD Director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio, Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo. INQUIRER/CDN FILE PHOTOS

He said he would also want to talk to the five police officials, adding that he expected the National Police Commission “to do their thing.”

“Imbestigahan ninyo ito at ‘wag ninyo akong bigyan ng zarzuela,” Duterte said.

The President said the police officials supposedly involved in illegal drugs or protection of drug syndicates committed treason because they destroy people’s lives. He said the five police officials were a big disappointment because the government funded their education through taxpayers’ money.

“Masakit pakinggan kasi ginastusan mo, pinag-aral mo, pati medyas at sapatos, gastos mo, tapos you commit, by any language, it is treason,” he said.

“Ito yung mga tao who were given the honor to join the academies of our country, be it the PNP or PMA at the expense of the public and made a career there. All along, tayong mga mamamayan thought we are being protected by the police,” he added. TVJ/ac/rga

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