NINE operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 8 tagged in the slay of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa were reassigned to CIDG 7 in Cebu yesterday.
CIDG 7 Director Royina Garma welcomed the policemen, three of whom are police-commissioned, or officials, while six are non-commissioned officers.
They were identified as Senior Insp. Deogracias Diaz, Senior Insp Fritz Blanco, Police Insp Lucresito Candilosas, SPO2 Antonio Docil, SPO1 Mark Christian Cadilo, PO3 Norman Abellanosa, PO2 John Ruel Doculan, PO2 Jaime Bascual and PO1 Lloyd Ortiguesa.
"They've just served their suspension so we can monitor them. They have already served their penalty in the administrative cases. They are back to routine police work," Garma said in Tagalog.
Garma said the policeman have not been dismissed, adding that reports that they have been reinstated are also wrong.
"There's no reason they can't be given positions commensurate to their ranks and trainings," she said in Tagalog.
After going through the due process, the nine policemen were given assignments and assigned to units, effective yesterday.
"They must continue working and hunt these targets who are allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade to support the anti-drug campaign of our President," Garma said.
Diaz, Doculan and Bascual are tasked to guard Cebu's southern towns, while Candisolas, Docil and Cadilo are tasked to guard northern towns. Blanco, Abellanosa and Ortiguesa are assigned in Bohol.
"If there is a need, then I can pull them out because they can also operate outside Cebu as long as they have clearance from me," Garma said.
The CIDG 7 has established offices in the islands of Siquijor and Camotes.
The nine policemen were part of the 19 under former CIDG 8 Director Marvin Marcos, who were ordered arrested by the Baybay, Leyte Regional Trial Court Branch 14 for allegedly plotting the slay of Espinosa and Raul Yap, an inmate.