Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa immediately sacked some members of the anti-illegal drugs unit of Metro Manila and Quezon City Police and sent them to Mindanao on the day he assumed office last Friday.
Dela Rosa ordered the relief of the members of the National Capital Region Police Office Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit (NCRPO-RAID) and Quezon City Police District’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit (QCPD-DAID) and transfer to different Mindanao provincial units.
A copy of the reassignment order was shown to INQUIRER.net on Tuesday.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier identified two former QCPD chiefs as protectors of drug syndicates—Police Director Joel Pagdilao and Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio.
READ: Duterte names top cops allegedly involved in illegal drug trade
Pagdilao was also ordered relieved as the director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) effective July 1.
Dela Rosa’s classmate at the Philippine Military Academy Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde replaced Pagdilao.
READ: New NCRPO chief targets ‘Abakada’ cops, orders mandatory drug test for personnel
The relieved anti-narcotics operatives will be assigned to the regional police offices of Zamboanga, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Caraga.
The relief order was signed by Chief Supt. Fernando Mendez Jr., chief of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management, and Chief Supt. Ramon Apolinario, Chief of the Directorial Staff.
Disgruntled members of QCPD DAID, however, are complaining about the transfer order, saying that it is unfair for Dela Rosa to assume that all personnel are involved in drugs.
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