Police Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, regional director of Police Regional Office 11 says they will ran after police officers involved in crimes following the “internal cleansing” on the PNP ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The Police Regional Office in Davao region vowed that rogue policemen will be dealt with accordingly.
“No mercy, if we find the scalawags,” Police Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, regional director of PRO XI, said in a news conference Wednesday.
“They do not have the right to stay in the organization [PNP].. even a minute,” Gaerlan added.
He, however, pointed out that police officers who will be caught will be afforded due process as the prosecution takes its course.
“We [will] give them their rights, we will exhaust all means para mapatunayan ang kanilang kasalanan (to prove their mistakes),” Gaerlan said.
PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa ordered the so-called purging of rogue cops after the killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo inside Camp Crame.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency will now head all anti-illegal drug operations.
Adzar Albani, director of PDEA 11, said they already coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, specifically the Task Force in Davao, to hasten the implementation of anti-illegal drug operation.
“That’s the initial instruction, cease to operate ang police (the police will cease to operate), we will coordinate with the AFP,” he said.
For its part, the TFD is waiting for the official order as to when and how they would work with PDEA.
TFD commander Col. Bernard Neri said his troops might need preparations such as training to conduct anti-illegal drug operations.
“Maybe, we need training. As of now, if they [PDEA] need manpower, we will provide them,” Neri said.
The commander said that TFD’s support to PDEA would not require the whole force of AFP, but “there will be a certain unit for this purpose.” (davaotoday.com)
