FOUR police officers from Central Visayas are among the 357 policemen recalled by Camp Crame for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.
This was confirmed by Police Regional Office 7 Director Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020.
Ferro said Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Archie Gamboa ordered the recall of the four police officers, who were on President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of government officials involved in illegal drugs, to Camp Crame to face investigation and go through due process.
Ferro withheld their names, saying Gamboa would be the one to release their identities to the public.
If their links to illegal drugs are proven, Ferro said the four police officers will be dismissed from the service and may face criminal charges.
Ferro said when he was still head of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Unit in Camp Crame, he monitored a number of policemen in Central Visayas linked to illegal drugs and gambling.
These police officers received money from illegal drugs and gambling operations in the region.
He warned policemen not to get involved with illegal activities to avoid problems in the future.
On Monday, Ferro together with more than 100 police officers in the Central Visayas signed an affidavit of undertaking on the policy of “no take” on illegal operations like drugs and gambling.
The signing of the affidavit tells the public that the police are dead serious in their work and anybody linked to illegal operations will be relieved and investigated.
Ferro said he will implement the three-strike policy: if three station commanders are relieved from their post, the provincial or the city director will also be relieved.
Police chiefs who fail to take action against illegal activities in their respective jurisdictions will be investigated and relieved.
Ferro said he tasked someone to report to him any police officer receiving “payola” from illegal gambling operations.
Ferro ordered all police chiefs in the region to launch operations against gambling operations not authorized by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
PRO 7 noticed the resurgence of the illegal numbers game in the region. (AYB / MVG)