GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/08 August) — One of the five policemen from Region 12 who were named by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Sunday as among the local government officials and other individuals who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs has presented himself to the Police Regional Office (PRO)-12 to undergo investigation.
Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr., PRO-12 public information officer, said Monday Sr. Insp. Jerry dela Rosa showed up at their regional headquarters in Barangay Tambler here several hours after being included in the list of supposed drug personalities announced by the President.
He said dela Rosa, who is currently the chief of police of Tampakan town in South Cotabato, reported to Sr. Supt. Leonardo Suan, PRO-12’s acting deputy regional director for operations.
But Galgo clarified that the President’s list identified dela Rosa’s rank as Senior Police Officer 1, which the latter held while still assigned years ago with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 12.
“The (regional office) is currently conducting some validation and investigation regarding the accusation against him,” he said in an interview over Brigada News TV here.
Galgo said the PRO-12 ordered the four other policemen from the region who were included in the list to immediately report to Sr. Supt. Suan.
These are Police Officer (PO) 3 Bebot Ruiz of the city police, PO3 Estelito Solanio of the Malungon police station in Sarangani Province, PO1 Glenn Alicarte of the PRO-12 and PO1 Philip Pantarolia of the Tacurong City police station in Sultan Kudarat.
But Supt. Ranie Hachuela, Tacurong City police chief, said PO1 Pantorilla already passed away in 2013 due to complications caused by diabetes and kidney problem.
He said Pantorilla, who was assigned in Tacurong City for six years, filed for an early retirement but died before it was approved.
Galgo said the other policemen included in the President’s list will also undergo investigation and other related processes.
He said all five policemen will immediately be relieved from their assignments in line with the investigation.
“They will all be subjected to due process based on our internal discipline mechanism and will face corresponding penalties if eventually proven guilty,” he said.
The police official acknowledged that the inclusion of some policemen from the region in the President’s list of drug personalities will cause some demoralization and affect their overall image to the public.
But he said they already expected it and noted that the President’s move is necessary as part of the ongoing “cleansing” of the Philippine National Police. (MindaNews)