CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union – Four more policemen are being investigated for their possible involvement in the operation of a shabu laboratory discovered in Naguilian, La Union last July 9.
Superintendent Jane Aunzo, Ilocos regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), however, withheld the names of the four policemen pending the investigation.
Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, who was relieved as police chief of Dagupan City, is also under investigation after an arrested caretaker of the shabu lab tagged him as the one who allegedly referred the warehouse in Barangay Bimmotobot where the illegal facility was put up.
Aunzo gave assurance that there would be no whitewash in the investigation even if policemen were implicated in the shabu lab’s operations.
“As a matter of fact, the PNP chief (Director General Avelino Razon Jr.) ordered a thorough investigation into the matter,” she said.
Seized from the lab were six truckloads of chemicals and equipment that can produce shabu worth about a trillion pesos.
Meanwhile, Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. said he was both surprised and downhearted when Borromeo was administratively relieved from his post pending the investigation.
Fernandez said Borromeo performed well as police chief, especially in the anti-illegal drug campaign.
Fernandez said that if a police officer is linked to illegal drugs, “that is the worst involvement.”
A number of police officials have expressed support for Borromeo, who they said has an untainted reputation and a good service record.
“Borro (Borromeo) might be a victim of fabricated information,” said a police official, who requested anonymity.
In a statement, Borromeo denied the allegations against him and promised to answer them “to clear my name at the proper forum.”
“Upon learning that my name has been maliciously link to the shabu laboratory in La Union, I sought my immediate relief from Dagupan and made myself readily available for any investigation.”
“My conscience is clear and my service reputation as a police officer will speak for itself,” he said. – With Eva Visperas and Cecille Suerte Felipe