10 cops sacked over P6.7 billion shabu haul

MANILA, Philippines — Ten police officers were relieved from their posts in connection with the investigation into the confiscation of nearly a ton of shabu worth P6.7 billion in Manila last month, an official said yesterday.

Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the Philippine National Police, said the personnel were assigned with the Drug Enforcement Group.

They were the immediate superiors and colleagues of M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., an anti-narcotics officer, who was among the suspects arrested during a sting that yielded around 990 kilos of shabu on Oct. 8.

Fajardo did not name the police officers, one of whom has a rank of lieutenant colonel who was relieved for command responsibility.

“They were relieved to give way to an investigation,” she told reporters.

Fajardo clarified that the relief of the police officers, who were transferred to the personnel holding and accounting unit at Camp Crame, does not necessarily mean that they were directly involved in Mayo’s illegal activities.

Fajardo said they hope to come up with the results of the probe before the end of the month.

Mayo has provided some vital information about the case, but Fajardo declined to elaborate.

‘Sleeping on the job’

In Manila, three police officers were scolded after they were caught sleeping on the job on Tuesday.

Manila Police District director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon transferred them to the Delpan station in Tondo.

Dizon said he caught the three officers sleeping at the Lawton police community precinct in Ermita during a routine inspection on Tuesday night.

While catching some sleep is not prohibited, they should have coordinated with one another to take shifts, Dizon said. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab