Duterte has basis in sacking Bacolod police chief —Panelo

FILE – President Rodrigo Duterte. (Photo from an RTVM video)

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte has a valid basis to order the dismissal of the chief of police of Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the assurance after Duterte, during a private event in Bacolod City over the weekend, announced the termination of Senior Superintendent Francis Ebreo and four other officers for allegedly “enabling” the proliferation of illegal drugs in the city.

READ: Duterte fires Bacolod police chief, 4 other cops

“There must be a basis why the President has relieved this Chief (of Bacolod police). I supposed intelligence information had reached him that is why he made his move,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“We have the PNP (Philippine National Police), we have the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group), we have the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency). All these agencies ordinarily provide the information relative to those involved in the illegal drug industry,” he added.

The Palace official noted that Ebreo and the other officials would still be given due process.

During his speech at the birthday party of Leo Rey Yanson, chief executive officer of Vallacar Transit, at L’Fisher Hotel, Duterte said: “In your involvement in drugs and making the people of Bacolod miserable, I am relieving and dismissing you from the service as of now, Senior Superintendent Francis Ebreo.”

Duterte then announced the dismissal of four other police officials.

“Then you have Superintendent Tayuan… And Superintendent Yatar… And there is Victor Paulino, police SI… Macapagal, you are out,” he said.