PDEA recommends dismissal of 35 cops for causing junking of drug cases

MANILA, Philippines - Thirty-five policemen nationwide were recommended charged and dismissed from the service for failing to attend court hearings that led to the junking of illegal drug cases.

Senior Superintendent Napoleon Taas, chief of the Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operation Task Force (AIDSOTF), said 25 of these policemen are from National Capital Region, five from Calabarzon, two each from Western Visayas and Central Visayas, and one from Western Mindanao.

Aside from dismissal from the service, Taas said the 35 policemen will also be charged with serious neglect of duty.

Taas said the recommendation was based on a March 6 letter of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Arturo Cacdac, who reported that 49 drug-related cases were dismissed by different courts nationwide from July to December 2012 due to the neglect of policemen handling them.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima earlier warned that unscrupulous police officers have no place in the police organization.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the plight of the 35 policemen should serve as a warning to other policemen to fulfill their obligation of not only busting illegal drug syndicates but also ensuring that those arrested would stay in jail.

“Attending court hearings is a paramount duty of all police personnel and must be given due importance,” Cerbo said.

“The policeman’s job does not end in arresting suspects but also involves the job of making sure that those they arrested will be convicted,” he added.

Under Republic Act 9165, Cerbo said any government officer or employee tasked with the prosecution of drug-related cases but who cause the unsuccessful prosecution and dismissal of these cases shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment ranging from 12 to 20 years.