30 NCRPO cops sent to Mindanao pending probe on ‘illegal links’

Policemen under the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) stand in attention during a public event. (Photo taken from the NCRPO website, www.ncrpo.pnp.gov.ph)

MANILA — Thirty officers of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) have been reassigned to Mindanao pending an investigation of their alleged links to illegal activities.

Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde, NCRPO director, confirmed this on Tuesday, saying an internal investigation brought to light the 30’s involvement in illegal activities.

“Their alleged involvement will be evaluated and decided [upon] by the Internal Affairs Service. Due process will be accorded,” Albayalde said.

He said they had no comment on President Rodrigo Duterte’s allegation that five generals, one of them a former NCRPO director and another a former Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, were involved in the illegal drug trade.

In a text message, NCRPO chief information officer Chief Insp. Kimberly Molitas said that they had nothing to say about the five police officials whom Duterte tagged as protectors of drug syndicates in his speech at the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), namely:  former Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy director general Marcelo Garbo Jr., former NCRPO director Joel Pagdilao, former QCPD director Edgardo Tinio, former Police Regional Office 7 director Bernardo Diaz, and former Manila Police District (MPD) director and now incumbent Daangbayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot.

“It’s a national issue,” Molitas briefly said. SFM