Cop chief relieved over men’s misdeeds

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — The chief of the Lucena City police in Quezon province has been relieved from his post amid investigation into alleged irregularities involving eight of his men during an anti-drug operation.

Lt. Col. Ryan Hernandez was replaced by Lt. Col. Marcelito Platino, who was designated as officer-in-charge of the Lucena police.

Hernandez was transferred to the Quezon police administrative and resources management unit pending results of investigation.

Quezon police director Col. Romulo Albacea said Hernandez’s relief was in compliance with a policy of the Philippine National Police to prevent him from possibly influencing the result of the probe being conducted by the Calabarzon police investigation and detective management division.

The officers being investigated have been charged with grave misconduct, grave dishonesty, oppression, conduct unbecoming of a police officer and grave neglect of duty.

The charges stemmed from allegations that the officers took the personal belongings of a drug suspect whom they arrested in Barangay Cotta on Oct. 30.

Owen de Luna, chief of the National Police Commission-Calabarzon, led the filing of administrative charges as a nominal complainant with three relatives of the suspect as principal complainants.