21 cops face ax for shabu ‘tiangge’

The National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) is set to conduct summary dismissal proceedings against the 21 police officers tagged by a government witness as the protectors of alleged Pasig City shabu "tiangge" operator Amin Iman Boratong.

Chief Superintendent Ray Roderos, NCRPO’s deputy director for administration and concurrent chief of Task Force Talipapa, denied reports that the cases of the 21 police officers are gathering dust in his office: "The Task Force Talipapa is regularly updating its members with regards to the cases of the 21 policemen. We are also continuously gathering evidence to pin them down on the charges against them."

Task Force Talipapa is composed of elements from the intelligence and regional investigation and detective management division of the NCRPO, Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Roderos’ statement came after AIDSOTF commander Director Geary Barias wrote a letter to NCRPO chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla asking about the developments in their investigation against the 21 police officers identified by government witness Samer Palao in his affidavit as being on Boratong’s payroll.

Barias said Task Force Talipapa was created to probe the criminal and administrative liability of the police officers implicated by Palao: "More than one year has passed after the raid, but the result of the investigative effort to determine... the culpability of the alleged police protectors based on the accusation of Palao remains to be seen."

"Apart from the relief of (the) former COP (chief of police) of Pasig City and several others, no case development reports have been submitted," Barias said.

Roderos said they are still awaiting Varilla’s approval for the summary dismissal proceedings against the 21 police to progress.

The Task Force Talipapa chief vowed to regularly update Barias of developments in their investigation of the 21 "Boratong" police officers.

Of the 21 police officers implicated by Palao in the shabu "tiangge," 17 were reporting regularly to the Tegional Headquarters Support Group (RHSG), RIDMD chief Senior Superintendent Clarance Quinto said.

One of the accused, PO2 John Ocleda was dismissed from the service on Jan. 12 for being absent without official leave (AWOL). Suspected "Boratong" hired killer and PO2 Ramil Along went AWOL on March 2.

"We have gathered sufficient evidence to subject the 21 policemen to summary dismissal proceedings," Quinto said in an interview.