Record of cops fired by Duterte clean, says PDEA

BACOLOD CITY — This city’s police chief and four other police officials, who were fired by President Rodrigo Duterte due to their alleged links to illegal drugs, have no derogatory records with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Western Visayas region.

David Garcia, spokesperson for the regional office of the PDEA, also said Bacolod City Councilor Ricardo “Cano” Tan was not included in the watch list of the antidrug agency.

But Garcia said the PDEA would conduct an investigation of the policemen and the councilor since the President announced their alleged involvement in the drug trade.

Meeting with President

The President, uring the birthday party of Leo Rey Yanson, chief executive officer of Vallacar Transit, in this city on Saturday, said he was firing Senior Supt. Francisco Ebreo, Bacolod police chief, and four others for allowing the proliferation of drugs in the capital city of Negros Occidental province.

The four other officials were Senior Supt. Allan Rubi Macapagal, Supt. Richie Makilan Yatar, Supt. Nasruddin Daud Tayuan and Senior Insp. Victor Paulino.

The President also linked Tan, Bacolod’s top councilor, to the drug trade.

Ebreo was called to Malacañang on Monday afternoon for a meeting with the President while the four police officers were sent to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit at the Western Visayas police headquarters in Iloilo City.

The pronouncement of the President surprised guests at the party, including Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police director.

Accomplishments

“In fact, he (Ebreo) has been delivering substantial accomplishments [in the fight against illegal drugs],” Bulalacao said.

“But I have to investigate and follow the instructions of the President because he must have a basis for announcing these names,” he added.

Garcia said: “We have no records against them … negative. However, the PDEA’s records are not conclusive,” Garcia said.

“If the six are not in our records, it means that the President relied on other intelligence sources. The government has a lot of other intelligence units,” Garcia added.