6 lawmen in shabu lab case suspended

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – Six of the 53 Region 1 (Ilocos) police personnel who were relieved as part of the investigation into the shabu laboratory busted in Naguilian, La Union last July, were suspended for three months each while two others have returned to regular duty.

Chief Superintendent Ramon Gatan, head of Task Force Bimmotobot, told The STAR that Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo, former Dagupan City police chief, was slapped with a 90-day preventive suspension along with Chief Inspector Gil Gempes, SPO4 Ambrosio Sayson, PO3 Joey Abang, PO2 Walter Banan, and PO1 Rodolfo Damian.

Borromeo, who was charged along with 13 others, was tagged by Dante Palaganas, the shabu lab’s caretaker, as one of their alleged protectors.

Borromeo denied the allegation in his affidavit.

Gatan said Chief Inspector Erwin Dayag, former police chief of Naguilian town, and SPO1 Pablo Florendo were back in regular duty because they are both complainants in the shabu lab case.

Gatan, deputy regional police director for administration, said the suspension will take effect until January.

Sources in Camp Crame said Gempes and Sayson were suspended due to administrative lapses, and the rest, due to grave misconduct or for their alleged involvement in the shabu lab’s operations.

Gatan said the task force has sought the return of the rest of the other relieved police personnel temporarily detailed at Camp Crame if they are already cleared.

The three-man prosecution panel created by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales is now evaluating the affidavits of the complainants and accused.

Authorities raided the shabu lab in Barangay Bimmotobot last July 9 and seized chemicals that could produce P27 million worth of shabu, according to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Dionisio Santiago.