Taguig police chief, 9 others sacked over ‘drug recycling’

MANILA, Philippines - National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leonardo Espina yesterday ordered the relief of the police chief of Taguig City and nine of his men for their alleged involvement in the recycling of seized illegal drugs.

Espina said the administrative relief of Senior Superintendent Tomas Apolinario Jr. and his men would prevent them from influencing the investigation he ordered against them.

Apolinario and his men are reassigned to the Regional Police Holding Administrative Unit (RPHAU) during the 30-day investigation.

Police Officer 3 Alexander Saez linked Apolinario and the nine policemen to the recycling of seized narcotics.

Espina ordered his deputy for administration, Chief Superintendent Sonny David, to leave no stone unturned in ferreting out the truth on the revelation of Saez.

David will be assisted by Senior Superintendent Florendo Quibuyen and Arthur Ferlix Asis, chiefs of the investigation and personnel divisions of the NCRPO, respectively.

Espina ordered the relief of Apolinario and his men, all assigned at the Taguig police’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force, on orders of Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome.

The NCRPO chief said that Saez will also be investigated following his admission that he participated in the illegal activity.

The whistleblower disclosed that the Taguig police anti-narcotics unit would conduct raids and then sell the seized drugs to drug users in the city.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is still verifying the allegations made by Saez that his superior and his men are running a drug syndicate right in the police station.

Saez has filed a formal complaint against Apolinario and the other Taguig policemen before the NBI.

“The statement and documents submitted are still being verified and no results of the investigation has been made,” NBI Director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas said in an interview with The STAR.

“We always abide by the evidence. We’re still validating the statement made by the whistleblower,” Rojas said. – With Sandy Araneta