MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) is set to release next week its resolution on the administrative case of one of the policemen involved in an alleged irregular anti-drug operation in Antipolo City, PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa said Monday.
Lt. Joven De Guzman is also one of the 13 officers involved the controversial anti-drug raid in Pampanga in 2013, which had prompted Gen. Oscar Albayalde to step down as PNP chief weeks before his retirement.
“Sinabihan ko si (I told) IAS, let’s come up with the result after a week,” Gamboa said in a press briefing at Camp Crame, adding that he ordered the unit to only give De Guzman an opportunity to explain himself on the grave misconduct allegation before coming up with a decision on his case.
Gamboa said he told this to IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo during a meeting on Friday to thresh out their differences, as the Triambulo earlier said he wanted the unit investigating errant police personnel to break away from the PNP.
The administrative case against De Guzman stemmed from an operation in Antipolo City where seven police officers allegedly attempted to arrest a certain Arnold Gramaje Jr. during a so-called buy-bust operation on May 4.
During the operation, the policemen allegedly fired at the vehicle of Gramaje after he refused to alight from his vehicle. Gramaje escaped, but the policemen allegedly followed him to his house and took P30,000 cash and gadgets.
Incidentally, three of the seven policemen were also involved in the alleged drug recycling in Pampanga in 2013.
Initially, IAS ordered the dismissal of all seven police officers, including De Guzman, but Gamboa recommended only 59 days of suspension for the accused policeman since dismissal from the service does not fit the less grave offense that IAS found against him.
Gamboa earlier said he did this only for De Guzman to be tried for a graver offense and possibly be recommended for dismissal under a sufficient ground.
“We agreed that we will remand,” said Gamboa. /je
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