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[av_heading heading=’7 NEGROS COPS RELIEVED
Officers linked to illegal drug trade ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY TIFFANY ANNE TAN
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BACOLOD City – Seven police officers in Negros Island Region allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade have been relieved.
They had “derogatory records,” said Chief Inspector Dianne Grace Catedral, public information officer of the Police Regional Office 18 (PRO-18).
The Philippine National Police national headquarters ordered the following police commissioned officers (PCOs) sacked effective Oct. 26:
* Superintendent Santiago Rapiz, chief of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) Police-Community Relations Division
* Superintendent Rosauro Francisco, Nocppo deputy director for operations
* Superintendent Jacob Crisostomo, chief of police, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental
* Chief Inspector Joemarie Occeño, station officer-in-charge, Valladolid, Negros Occidental
* Chief Inspector Rico Santotome, PRO-18
* Superintendent Leonardo Angcon, PRO 18
* Superintendent Lino Dalisay, chief, Nocppo Investigation Division
They were ordered to report to the PRO-18 within three days, or not later than Saturday.
Catedral stressed that their names have undergone a series of validation.
Earlier Rapiz was named in a “drug matrix” given to journalists.
The 14-page “white paper” contained charts with names of local officials, police and military officers, and businesspeople in Negros Occidental allegedly protecting or involved in the drug trade.
Rapiz vehemently denied his involvement in the drug trade. He said he was willing to be investigated.
The officer stressed he has never received millions of pesos and vehicles from drug lords.
Rapiz and Rosauro will be assigned to the PRO-9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), while Crisostomo, Occeño and Santotome will be detailed in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Angcon and Dalisay, on the other hand, will be sent to the PRO-Cordillera in Northern Luzon.
Occeño will be temporarily replaced by his deputy, Inspector Junjie Liba, as Valladolid police officer-in-charge.
Crisostomo’s deputy, Chief Inspector Anthony Grande, will also take over as San Carlos City chief of police.
Francisco, Dalisay and Rapiz have yet to have replacements.
Earlier PRO-18 director Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban recommended the relief of several PCOs allegedly engaged in the drug trade. At the time, he refused to name the police officers.
Gumban said their identities and activities were thoroughly validated by Camp Crame and various intelligence units.
They were suspected “users, pushers or protectors,” he said.
Gumban believes their removal from the island will draw out all other officers with lower ranks who may be engaged in the drug trade.
He warned police officers dipping their toes into the illicit activity not to wait for the ax to fall on their heads.
Gumban suggested that they retire early, so they may still avail themselves of their benefits, while validation is ongoing.
“Don’t wait for the cases to be filed and that you get nothing from your long years of service with the PNP (Philippine National Police),” he said. “This is not a joke.”
Police officers who have enriched themselves through illegal means while in the service must pay, said Gumban./PN
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