Dela Rosa orders relief of cops allegedly involved in planting of evidence

(Photo: KING RODRIGUEZ/Presidential Photo)

MANILA—Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has ordered the relief of policemen who were allegedly involved in the planting of evidence in a supposed “Tokhang” operation.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Oscar Albayalde, in a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Friday, confirmed that the PNP chief has ordered the relief of at least 10 policemen who were caught in the CCTV (closed-circuit television) footage as planting evidence in a supposed anti-drug operation, which was shown by Senator Panfilo Lacon during a Senate hearing on Thursday.

However, Albayalde would not identify the policemen pending the result of the investigation.

He said the suspects have been disarmed and are now under “restrictive custody” at the PHAU (Police Holding and Accounting Unit).

The NCRPO chief stressed that such an incident does not bespeak of the discipline of the 165,000-strong national police.

Likewise, Albayalde said there are unscrupulous individuals who are taking advance of the government’s drug war such that they are posing as policemen or agents of the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) in order to dupe money from unsuspecting victims.

He cited a case in Bicol Region wherein an unscrupulous individual dropped the name of a policeman assigned at the NCRPO just to extort money from an unsuspecting victim.

Upon verification, Albayalde said the said policeman is a “straight” man.

Albayalde also urged the public to immediately report to the police if they are victimized by such impostors.