Metro police chief recommends disbanding anti-drug units

The alleged shakedown at the Manila Police Station 4 in Sampaloc on Saturday prompted Metro police chief Director Ricardo de Leon to recommend disbanding all anti-drug units at the station level.

De Leon also warned the 37 station commanders in Metro Manila to "shape up" or face relief if they fail to curb the rampant "bangketa," "hulidap," "kalawit," and other extortion activities of their men.

"To avoid issues that our men are involved in extortion cases, it is better for all of us to disband the anti-drug units at the station level," De Leon told The Star.

The Metro police chief said he will relay his recommendation to Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. during their meeting today in Camp Crame.

According to De Leon, it would be for the good of the PNP if the war against illegal drugs would be carried on by elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF).

De Leon stormed the Manila Police Station 4 headquarters located at G. Tuazon corner Algeciras St., in Sampaloc last Saturday amid reports that three men arrested by local policemen were being asked to cough up P70,000 to P500,000 in exchange for their release.

Acting Manila police chief Senior Superintendent Juanito de Guzman said De Leon has ordered the relief of Senior Inspector Alfredo David, head of the Station’s anti-drug unit; Superintendent Ferdinand Quirante, the deputy commander of Station 4; SPO1 Ernesto Manaois; SPO1 Wilfredo Sanchez; PO3 Reynaldo Geneta and PO3 Reynaldo Robles.

Quirante was relieved for command responsibility as he was the duty officer at the time of the shakedown.

De Leon said the fate of WPD Station 4 police chief Superintendent Manolo Martinez will be known today after his meeting with Reyes and Ebdane. — Non Alquitran