Head of CL drug rehab center axed

MAGALANG, Pampanga — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has relieved a senior police officer as executive director of the Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center (CLDRC) here while alleged irregularities at the center are being investigated.

Meanwhile, Director Avelino Razon, PNP director for operations, has asked the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit to look into reports that Senior Superintendent Conrado Briton, relieved CLDRC head, and Senior Superintendent Efren Alamares, head of the task force probing the alleged anomalies, "nearly came to blows" in a meeting held at the Holiday Inn Hotel at Clark Field last Jan. 20.

Ebdane relieved Briton to allow an impartial investigation into the alleged anomalies at the CLDRC, which is being run by the Sagip Bie Foundation Inc.

Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol, Central Luzon police director, said Ebdane issued the relief order after an initial investigation "indicated that the allegations of anomalies are true."

Earlier, Alamares exposed the anomalies after the relatives of the center’s wards sought his help following reports that the latter had been maltreated.

Medical examinations showed that 23 wards sustained contusions and hematoma when the center’s police personnel allegedly hit them with a bamboo pole supposedly for violating house rules against drinking and smoking.

Five policemen assigned at the CLDRC have been relieved and transferred to Camp Olivas. They were identified as Senior Inspector Dindo Lagunda, SPO4 Wilfrido Paed, and PO1s Regidor Fernando, Eufemio Covardo Jr. and Restie Astrero.

Briton has denied allegations that he had misused the funds of the center.