CLEAR YOURSELVES. Gen. Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) (center), calls on police officers tagged in the illegal drugs trade to present themselves for adjudication. Policemen should clear themselves as it will be difficult for them to remain under monitoring for the rest of their careers, Albayalde said on Friday (September 6, 2019). (Photo courtesy of PRO 6 PIO)
ILOILO CITY -- The Philippine National Police Chief (PNP) chief has called on police officers with alleged connection to the illegal drug trade to “present themselves for adjudication”.
In a press conference on Friday at Camp Delgado here, Gen. Oscar Albayalde confirmed that more than 30 police personnel under the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6) were tagged as involved in the narco trade.
With those left on the government’s list, “more than 300 (police officers) are still left (with alleged links on illegal drugs), and more than 30 personnel, according to the regional director, are listed here in PRO 6," he said.
“Now, if they think they are on the list, they can always present themselves for adjudication,” Albayalde said.
Each police regional office in the country has an adjudication board from the Regional Intelligence Division, he added.
The process does not end in presenting oneself to the adjudication board and will not be used as an excuse to continue with the illegal drug activity, the PNP chief explained.
“Of course, it does not mean that when you present yourself is it will be an excuse to continue with your illegal activity,” he said. The police officers that are still on the government’s list are subjected to monitoring.
The PNP has a counter-intelligence unit in different regions and has the Integrity Monitoring Enforcement Group (IMEG) tasked to prove or disprove illegal activities of policemen tagged in the drug trade.
“We monitor them and if when we get evidence against them, we will file cases and most probably they will be dismissed from service,” Albayalde said.
He urged those who were on the list to already present themselves.
“I believe that they find it difficult that they would remain under monitoring until the rest of their careers. They have to clear themselves,” Albayalde said. (PNA)
