2 top Manila police execs relieved

Two Manila police unit chiefs were sacked yesterday on orders of Philippine National Police chief Deputy Director General Panfilo Lacson after their men were caught visiting a gambling den in Sta. Cruz, Manila, believed under police protection.

Chief Inspector Nelson Yabut, head of WPD's General Assignments Section and Chief Inspector Moises dela Cruz of the WPD Field Force were ordered transferred to the Ilocos and Cagayan regions, respectively, effective immediately.

Although some sectors insisted that the relief was expected, sources said the arrest of their men by members of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) while allegedly collecting protection money caused it.

The source said the two officers, particularly Yabut, are up for promotion but Yabut will not receive his until he has been assigned outside WPD. Yabut has reportedly been with the Manila police for the last 17 years.

There were actually five policemen belonging to different units nabbed by the PAOCTF. The three others were reportedly from the WPD District Mobile Patrol Support Unit and the Ermita police.

Lacson had earlier ordered the relief of the Central, Northern and Southern police district directors.

The PNP chief said most of the movements are procedural and may not be due to derogatory causes. --