Duterte orders lifestyle check on sacked cops

BACOLOD CITY—President Duterte on Wednesday said an investigation and lifestyle check will proceed against relieved Bacolod police director, Senior Supt. Francisco Ebreo, and four other police officers, accused by the President of enabling illegal drugs to proliferate.

The President made the announcement after a 20-minute meeting with the five policemen in Malacañang around 4:30 p.m., according to Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police regional director.

Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde and Bulalacao were with the five policemen during the meeting with the President.

Audience

Aside from Ebreo, Senior Supt. Allan Rubi Macapagal, Supt. Richie Makilan Yatar, Supt. Nasruddin Daud Tayuan and Senior Insp. Victor Paulino were also at Malacañang.

Duterte announced the firing of the five policemen in his speech at the private birthday party of Leo Rey Yanson, president and chief executive officer of Vallacar Transit Inc., at the L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City on Saturday night.

Bulalacao said the President talked to the Bacolod policemen about information he received from reliable sources that they allegedly were involved in drugs.

Ebreo did not bother to check the information about his subordinates, which indicated he was protecting them.

Due process

The President said since Ebreo did not take action he should be relieved with the four others and an investigation and lifestyle check should proceed, Bulalacao said, adding that due process will be given them.

“He (Duterte) did not mention anything about the alleged involvement of Ebreo in illegal drug activities,” Bulalacao said.

“His only issue against Ebreo was that he did not act against his subordinates,” Bulalacao said.

The five policemen are being held at the police Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit in Iloilo City, but Bulalacao said he had asked the PNP chief for their transfer to Camp Crame.

Bulalacao said Bacolod City faced a real problem in police presence if no one took the place of the five suspended policemen.