Negros island cops relieved over drug links

BACOLOD CITY—Seven more policemen in Negros Island Region have been reassigned to northern Luzon following suspicions that they were involved in or protecting the illegal drug trade.

Chief Insp. Dianne Grace Catedral, regional police spokesperson, said the policemen were transferred to the Cordillera regional police office in Benguet province on Nov. 16 on orders of Philippine National Police chief, Director General Ronald de la Rosa.

Catedral said these policemen are Chief Insp. Jose Mulleta, Senior Insp. Gideon Montaño, Police Officer 3 Dennis Ywayan, and Police Officers 2 Amor Firmeza, Ferdimark Peñaroyo, Jett Baloya and Jeffrey Toquero.

Mulleta was detailed at the regional office of the National Police Commission while Montaño served as Station 1 commander of the Bacolod City police.

Last month, seven policemen from Negros linked to the drug trade were reassigned and sent to police offices in Luzon and Mindanao. —CARLA P. GOMEZ