Pasig City police precinct chief axed

The police precinct commander in charge of the area where journalist Fernan Angeles was shot on March 11 had been relieved of his post, a police official told the Inquirer Thursday.

In a phone interview, Senior Superintendent Danilo Maligalig, spokesman of Task Force Angeles, said Senior Inspector Bernardo Pascua Jr., commander of Precinct 3, was sacked to pave the way for an “honest and fair investigation” into the newsman’s shooting.

He said that four of Pascua’s men were also relieved from their post.

Maligalig made the announcement as he cited “inconsistencies” in the reporter’s e-mailed statement to the media on Wednesday, which insinuated that some members of the Pasig police were involved in the drug trade and were bribed by the leader of the gunmen who ambushed Angeles.

He said there was no record of an arrest operation against alleged drug dealer Faisal Sancopan hours before the shooting.—Kristine Felisse Mangunay