Pasig's new top cop told to rid city of drugs

MANILA, Philippines - Metro police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales directed yesterday the newly-installed Pasig police chief to solve the city’s drug problem.

Rosales said Senior Superintendent Napoleon Villegas, the new Pasig City police chief, “should lick the drug problem in the city. And importantly, he should rid his command of erring personnel, especially those in cahoots with drug syndicates.”

Villegas replaced Senior Superintendent Ramon de Jesus as Pasig City police chief during a simple turnover ceremony Saturday.

Rosales said De Jesus was sacked after Mayor Roberto Eusebio declared before Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa he lost confidence in his police chief.

De Jesus’ relief came after elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) raided a house allegedly owned by alleged Pasig City shabu flea market operator Amin Imam Boratong and confiscated at least 200 grams of shabu.

PDEA said Boratong has been operating his drug business by remote control from his detention cell at the National Bureau of Investigation.

Rosales said Villegas should wipe out the remnants of the Boratong drug syndicate, especially a certain Boy Negro, who is reportedly behind the illegal drug trade not only in Pasig City but also its neighboring towns and cities. – Non Alquitran