Heads roll at PNP Narcotics Group

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza ordered yesterday the investigation of the director of the Narcotics Group in connection with the escape of a big-time drug pusher from police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday. Ordered investigated was PNP-NarcGroup chief Senior Superintendent Reynor Gonzales for command responsibility.

In a press conference, Mendoza also warned that heads will roll in the escape of Rosario Manansala, who bolted the detention cell of the Narcotics Group.

Mendoza also sacked from their posts Superintendent Songcola Hussein, head of the NarcGroup’s Service Support Unit; Senior Inspector Beatriz Sangil, duty officer; SPO3 Rodrigo Decilos and SPO1 Felipe Fernandez, duty custodial guards at the time of Manansala’s escape.

Hussein, Sangil, Decilos and Fernandez are now undergoing summary dismissal proceedings in connection with the incident.

Manansala and her driver Menecio Peña were arrested in a buy-bust operation last April 3, where some 469 grams of shabu were found in her possession, in Bulacan. Drug charges are now pending in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court with Judge Jaime Salazar.

Manansala escaped after she sawed off the iron grills of her detention cell and walked casually out of Camp Crame at around 4:30 a.m. Gonzales and his men tried to keep the incident under wraps but reporters learned about the incident by noontime.

Manansala is said to be one of the contacts of an international drug syndicate operating in the country. – Christina Mendez