MANILA, Philippines – The police officer who was killed in Makati City on Monday was among the 357 cops facing adjudication for inclusion in the drug watchlist, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief revealed on Tuesday.
According to NCRPO regional director, P/Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, they are looking at Police Maj. Jeffrey Dalson’s possible involvement in the drug trade as the reason for his killing.
Dalson was gunned down on Monday while his car was parked along J.P Rizal Avenue in the said city. Prior to his death, he was assigned to the Office of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa — as cops in the drug watchlist are relieved from their posts and designated under the PNP chief.
“We’re looking at the possible involvement sa work niya, or ‘yong sa drug syndicate. We could already safely say na, si Major Jeff Dalson was formerly assigned dito sa NCR. He was included in the national watchlist as involved sa drugs, kaya siya nalipat sa ibang area,” Sinas explained in a briefing on Tuesday.
(We’re looking at the possible involvement of this attack with his work, or with a drug syndicate. We could already safely say that Major Jeff Dalson was formerly assigned here at NCR. He was included in the national watchlist due to his involvement with drugs, that’s why he was assigned to another area.)
“Ngayon pinatawag po sila ng chief PNP para i-adjudicate, kasama po siya sa 357, tapos ito ang nangyari,” he added.
(They were recalled by the PNP chief for the adjudication process, he was one of the 357 officers, then this happened.)
Last February 10, Gamboa said the NCRPO is monitoring 357 police officers for their alleged involvement in the drug trade. The list became controversial as it included Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido, who previously earned praises from President Rodrigo Duterte for leading his war on drugs.
This appears to be the second incident where police personnel in the watchlist was killed, after Gamboa revealed last February 17 that one of the 357 was also gunned down.
READ: PNP chief recalls cops in drug watchlist to Camp Crame
Sinas noted that it is possible that while stationed with NCRPO, Dalson possibly had issues or made enemies that were unsettled after he was assigned to a provincial office.
“We are looking at two angles: we have already guided our chief of police to backtrack ‘yong mga assignments niya, pwede kasi na nangyari sa kanya ay (pinatay) no’ng mga kalaban talaga niya,” the NCRPO chief said.
(We are looking at two angles: we have already guided our chief of police to backtrack his assignments, because he could have been killed by his enemies.)
“Pangalawa, baka ‘yong mga sindikato ng drugs, kasi ngayon lang siya bumalik ng NCR eh. Baka meron siyang nakabangga, nakalimutan ayusin or whatever, so no’ng nakita siya dito ay tsinansahan siya,” he added.
(Second, it could be about a drug syndicate, because it was only now that he returned to NCR. Maybe he has an enemy, or an issue that he forgot to settle. So when they saw him, they grabbed the chance to kill him.)