PNP probe into drug links to continue after sacking of Bacolod cops

MANILA, Philippines — Director General Oscar Albayalde, national police chief, said on Monday that the investigation into the alleged drug links of relieved Bacolod police officers will continue despite their sacking.

At a press conference streamed by the Philippine National Police, Albayalde said that the PNP's probe into Senior Superintendent Francis Ebreo and four other officers will continue so other law enforcement personnel who may be engaged in the illegal drug trade will be found.

“We are not closing the investigation because they are relieved already. There may be others involved in this... if this is true,” the police chief said.

Albayalde said that the PNP received information of Ebreo’s possible engagement in the illegal drug trade but their counter-intelligence personnel are still in the process of validating this.

"This came out just a few weeks back, just last week, before the president announced the relief of these people," Albayalde said in a mix of English and Filipino in a press conference.

Duterte sacked Ebreo and four other Bacolod cops last weekend.

“I’d like to know if the chief of police is here. If you are here, kindly stand up because you are fired as of this moment… 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,” the president said in his speech at a private event.

Others who were relieved from their positions are Ebreo’s deputy for administration Superintendent Allan Macapagal, deputy for operations Superintendent Ritchie Yata, Superintendent Ritchie Yata Nasruddin Tayu-an and former Station 3 chief Senior Inspector Victor Paulino.

The STAR reported that the four cops, except Tayu-an who was reportedly sent to Mindanao earlier, have been reassigned to the Personnel Holding Center in Iloilo City. 

Albayalde said that the cops would be given due process and be given the opportunity to explain “because that is the law.”

The police chief also said that the relief of the officers would be carried out as it was a speicific directive from the commander-in-chief himself. He added that the president could have given the order from the information that he has access to.

Duterte ordered the cops to report to his office on Monday afternoon. — Kristine Joy Patag