PNP OIC orders review of dismissal order status vs 7 cops in Antipolo drug bust

MANILA, Philippines — Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday he has ordered a review on the status of the dismissal order against seven police officers involved in an alleged irregular anti-drug operation in Antipolo in May.

The PNP-Internal Affairs Service (IAS), in a resolution dated October 10, has ordered the dismissal of the police officers,  four of whom also figured in another questionable drug sting in Pampanga in November 2013. The alleged irregular drug sting is now the subject of a Senate investigation.

Former PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, was the Pampanga police director during that year and was also implicated by former police officials in the probe being conducted by the Senate.

In an interview with DZMM, Gamboa said that as he has now the power of the PNP chief as a disciplinary authority, he can now order a review on the status of the case, which was supposedly not immediately implemented.

“Rest assured sa publiko na wala itong bias and ipapahanap ko ngayon ‘yung kaso kung nasaan na (The public may rest assured that this will not have any bias and I will order the review of the status of the case and where [the resolution order] is now),” he said.

IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo had recommended the dismissal of the police officers but reportedly said he was not sure if the office of Albayalde acted on the order.

According to Gamboa, the only way that the recommendation of the PNP-IAS may not be immediately acted upon or may be referred to another summary hearing officer is if the implementing authority is not satisfied on the appreciation of evidence presented against the accused officers.

“Kapag in order naman lahat, hindi naman puwedeng ibahin mo ‘yung recommendation na penalty, kasi hindi dapat mangyari pagdating sa iyo as disciplinary authority babaguhin mo,” said Gamboa.

(If everything is in order, you cannot change the recommendation on the penalty, because you cannot change it as disciplinary authority when it reaches you.)

“The only way na pwede mo siyang baguhin is dapat mag undergo ng (that you can change it is if it will undergo) another trial to appreciate other new evidence,” he added.  /muf