Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio and Police Director Joel Pagdilao. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS/GRIG MONTEGRANDE, LYN RILLON
The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has sought clearance from President Rodrigo Duterte to conduct a formal hearing against two ranking police officials tagged as alleged protectors of drug lords after it found probable cause to file administrative cases against them.
Police Director Joel Pagdilao and Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio are facing administrative complaints for serious neglect of duty, serious irregularity in the performance of duty and conduct unbecoming of a police officer based on the President’s accusation that they are coddling drug syndicates.
READ: Pagdilao, Tinio bent on clearing name after Duterte exposé
But as to their direct participation in the illegal drug activities, lawyer Johnson Reyes, Inspection Monitoring and investigation Service Division, said they have yet to secure evidence against Pagdilao and Tinio.
“Direct participation as protector(s)? We don’t have that yet,” Reyes said in a media interview on Tuesday.
Pagdilao and Tinio are both former chiefs of the Quezon City Police District. They were among the first victims of Duterte’s name-and-shame campaign along with Chief Supt. Bernardo Diaz and retired officials Deputy Director General Marcelino Garbo and Chief Superintendent Vicente Loot.
READ: Duterte names top cops allegedly involved in illegal drugs trade
All police generals Duterte publicly named in his speech last July have denied the President’s accusation against them.
Reyes said the Napolcom, the governing body of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has not completed its investigation on Diaz.
In letters addressed to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea dated August 23, Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Rogelio Casurao said that after the Napolcom conducted pre-charge investigation on the active police officials, it found basis to warrant the filing of a formal charge against Pagdilao and Tinio.
The commission, after conducting pre-charge investigation pursuant to Napolcom memorandum circular no. 2016-002 otherwise known as the “Revised rules of procedure before the administrative disciplinary authorities and the Internal Affairs Service of the PNP,” found probable cause to warrant the filing of a formal charge against the respondent.
Section 6 Rule 2 of Napolcom Memorandum Circular no. 2016-002 requires Napolcom to secure clearance from the Office of the President to proceed with the summary proceeding after a formal charge is filed against a presidential appointee.
Under the Republic Act 6975 or the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, the President appoints police officials, upon the recommendation of PNP chief, with ranks from Senior Superintendent to Deputy Director General.
If they would be found liable, Reyes said Napolcom may either suspend or dismiss the police generals from service./rga
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