Two ‘narco-generals’ sacked—Palace

FILE: Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella. (PCOO photo)

Two Philippine National Police (PNP) officers tagged as ‘narco-generals’ by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in his July 2016 speech were dismissed from their positions, according to Malacañang on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press conference that the President ordered the axing of former Quezon City Police Director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio, and former Metro Manila Police Chief Director Joel Pagdilao.

“The decision, signed by the Executive Secretary [Salvador Medialdea] last Thursday, has found [them] administratively liable for serious neglect of duty and serious irregularity in the performance [of their] duty and have been dismissed,” Abella told reporters.

Abella said that the President dismissed them off their services as the aforementioned officers ‘deliberately refused’ to perform their duties as police officers, which resulted to the proliferation of drug trade in their areas of jurisdiction.

The spokesman said that the decision was in line with Duterte’s ‘promise to render the nation crime and corruption-free.’ He added that he is not aware if the two officials would face criminal raps.

In Duterte’s speech in 2016 to the Philippine Air Force, Tinio and Pagdilao were among the five ‘narco-generals’ named, along with Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz, Deputy Director General Marcelino Garbo, and Chief Superintendent Vicente Loot. All five denied the accusations thrown at them.