(Eagle News) – The 10 police officers seen on a CCTV video shown by Senator Panfilo Lacson during the “tokhang for ransom” senate inquiry had been relieved.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald dela Rosa himself ordered the relief of the cops seen on video allegedly planting “shabu” during a raid in an office last October.
PNP National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) Director Oscar Albayalde said the 10 policemen were members of the NCRPO Special Operations Task Group. He however did not name the erring cops caught on video. He said that the highest ranked officer among them was a chief inspector.
“The PNP chief has already ordered an investigation and relieved the people involved,” he said.
The relieved cops were transferred to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (PHAU)
But Albayalde said that although the cops had been relieved, this was “not punitive in nature” and was meant to “pave the way for due process and impartial investigation.”
“We don’t want to condemn them right away. Let them explain their side,” said Albayalde.
The relieved cops will be tried by the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS).
Senator Lacson, chair of the senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, showed the video where the cops were seen conducting a raid in an undisclosed office, with one of them allegedly planting shabu inside office drawers, and even getting some money.
He said that this proved that police excesses and crimes were happening and were not isolated incidents.