PNP: Police in Duterte document on ‘narco cops’ may be sacked

Philippine National Police spokesperson Police Colonel Bernard Banac. INQUIRER.net file photo / Cathrine Gonzales

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday that the ax might fall on its personnel involved in drugs, after President Rodrigo Duterte said he would release a document detailing police involvement in drugs.

“Yes, it is considered as a grave offense punishable by dismissal without prejudice to filing of criminal charge if evidence warrants,” PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac said in a text message to INQUIRER.net when asked if officers involved in drugs might face dismissal from service.

During a campaign rally of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Malabon City on Tuesday, Duterte said he would release a document that contained information on the involvement of police officials in drugs.

“Ilalabas ko ‘yung dokumento bukas. Iyong paano maglaro ang pulis sa droga, ‘yung mga opisyal at bakit hindi mahinto-hinto. At bakit naman ‘yung mga pulis noon naka-assign sa anti-drugs hanggang ngayon sa anti-drugs pa rin. Kaya pinaglalaruan ang Pilipino,” Duterte said.

(I will release the document tomorrow on how police officials play with drugs and why it cannot stop, and why police officers assigned in the anti-drugs unit remain the same. That’s why they fool Filipinos.)

As of this posting, the President has not released the document, but the PNP said it was ready to investigate active personnel who might be involved in the drug trade.

“Our campaign on internal cleansing is relentless and we will never tolerate anyone of us found committing illegal acts,” Banac said. /cbb

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