‘Rogue’ cops tagged in businessman’s slay, illegal drugs face dismissal raps

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MANILA, Philippines — Two erring police officers are facing summary dismissal on separate cases, while a whole unit in Quezon City was disarmed following an alleged extortion attempt, as the Philippine National Police (PNP) continues its internal cleansing program.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Thursday named one of the cops facing dismissal charges as Manila Police District’s (MPD) Police Senior M/Sgt. Bernardo Oriol Jr. as the suspect behind the killing of businessman Naiquian Yuan in Malate, Manila.

Oriol and his alleged cohort identified as Shi Shanbang were arrested last Friday in Binondo after  investigators took note of the similarity in Oriol’s outfit to the clothes worn by one of the suspects, while his own motorcycle also fitted the description of what was seen in the footage.

On the other hand, Police Staff Sgt. Manuel Bien, who was assigned at the Police Security Protection Group based in Camp Crame, was accused of being a source of illegal drugs by a drug suspect. Both Bien and the drug suspect were arrested in an anti-drug operation last Monday.

Eleazar assured the public that he has already directed the Internal Affairs Service to start the summary dismissal proceedings against Oriol and Bien.

“Inatasan ko na ang Internal Affairs Service sa pamumuno ni Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo na tutukan at umpisahan sa lalong madaling panahon ang summary dismissal proceedings laban sa pulis Maynila na sangkot sa pagpatay sa isang negosyante at isang pulis sa Mandaluyong na nahulihan ng shabu matapos siyang ituro ng isang drug pusher na supplier ng droga,” he said.

(I have tasked the Internal Affairs Service under the leadership of Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo to focus on this case and immediately start the summary dismissal proceedings against a Manila police officer involved in the killing of a businessman, and a Mandaluyong cop who was caught with illegal drugs and who was identified by a drug trader as a supplier.)

“Kasabay ng administrative case, sisiguraduhin nating mahaharap sa kasong kriminal ang mga ito. Hindi mag-aatubili ang PNP na alisin sa hanay ang mga sumisira sa tiwala at kumpiyansa ng ating mga kababayan sa kapulisan,” he added.

(Along with the administrative case, we will ensure that these individuals would face criminal charges.  The PNP would not hesitate to rid its ranks of those who erode public trust and confidence in the police force.)

Meanwhile, Eleazar also ordered the entire Quezon City’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) field unit disarmed and placed under restrictive custody after they were accused of trying to extort P3 million from an arrested businessman in exchange for his release.

Aside from this, Eleazar said that CIDG director Police Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro has been ordered to replace the entire unit’s personnel.

“Walang lugar sa PNP ang mga ganitong uri ng pulis at makakaasa ang ating mga kababayan ng patuloy na paglilinis sa aming hanay bilang bahagi ng aming Intensified Cleanliness Policy,” Eleazar said.

(There is no place within the PNP for these kinds of police officers, and the public can expect that we would continue to clean our ranks as part of our Intensified Cleanliness Policy.)

Eleazar, when he became the PNP chief, vowed to make internal cleansing his primary project in his six-month stint.

During his speech after assuming office last May, Eleazar said that rogue cops and “padrinos” would hate him for initiating an intensified cleansing policy.

EDV