100 cops may face ax over failure to show up in drug case hearings

MORE than 100 policemen are at risk of being dismissed from service and charged with criminal cases for failing to appear as prosecution witness in court hearings of illegal drug cases.

This was after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency submitted to the anti-illegal drugs special operations task force (AIDSOTF) of the Philippine National Police over 100 names of PNP members who failed to attend court hearings after serving as poseur buyers or arresting officers in drug-related operations.

Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia Jr., AIDSOTF spokesperson, said Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo gave them a strict order to remove policemen who are hampering the prosecution of drug trade suspects.

Garbo is currently the deputy chief for operations, the second man in the PNP chain of command.

PDEA’s list comprised of policemen with ranks of PO1 up to Chief Inspector. Majority of the officers came from the National Capital Region Police Office.

In an interview on Tuesday, Merdegia said some police witnesses are being paid by the accused to deliberately miss court hearings for the case to be dismissed.

He said erring policemen would face criminal charges for violating section 91 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. They will also be slapped with administrative charges for serious neglect of duty.

“Kakasuhan natin sila definitely, matindi ang utos ng DCO na ‘alisin sa serbisyo itong mga pulis na ito. Wala silang puwang sa PNP service.’ Dapat wala itong mga ‘to sa mga anti-illegal drugs unit kasi baka tularan. Ito yung mga bad eggs na nakakahawa,” he said.

According to Senior Superintendent Bartolome, AIDSOTF head, they have tapped the directorate for personnel and resource management and directorate for investigative and detective management to investigate the possible liabilities of policemen.

In a statement, Bartolome expressed dismay over the negligence of PNP personnel.

“Ang mga katulad nila ay walang karapatan magtagal sa serbisyo dahil sila ang mga anay na sumisira sa institusyon,” he said. AC