Duterte names police generals ‘protecting drug rings’

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga— President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday named five police generals allegedly involved in illegal drugs, and ordered them relieved from their posts.

In his speech at the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), Duterte said one of the police generals was former Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy director general Marcelo Garbo, Jr.

He said Garbo was a "protector of drug syndicates."

Duterte identified the others allegedly involved in illegal drugs as Vicente Loot, Bernardo Diaz, Edgardo Tinio, and Joel Pagdilao.

Garbo and Loot have retired from the PNP.

Loot is the newly elected mayor of Daanbantayan town in Cebu.

Diaz was director of the Police Regional Office 6, Tinio was director of the Quezon City Police District Office and Pagdilao was director of the National Capital Region Police Office.

"As [of] this time, I order them relieved from their assignments and report to the director general [Ronald dela Rosa]," Duterte said.

"I would like to talk them and certainly, I would expect the [National Police Commission to do their thing; imbestigahan ninyo ito at 'wag ninyo akong bigyan ng zarzuela," he added.

"Hanapin ninyo ang tao kasi overnight I was really trying to figure out.... I do not necessarily humiliate people. It's not my practice, politiko ako eh," Duterte added.

‘Black proganda’

In an interview with radio station dzBB, Loot denied the allegations against him.

"Nabiktima lang ako ng black propaganda," Loot said.

Loot said that allegations of his involvement in illegal drugs came from one of his critics during his time as director of the Manila Police District.

He said it would be unfair for his family and fellow Cebuanos if he would not be given a chance to clear his name.

"It's unfair to me and to my family, kailangan ma-clear ko ang sarili ko... Sana naman mabigyan ako ng pagkakataon, it's unfair to my fellow Cebuanos, kilala ako dito, alam nila kung anong klaseng opisyal ako," Loot said.

Shocked

Tinio said he would devote his remaining days in the service to clearing his name

"I still have one year and six months sa serbisyo. Malinis ko lang ang pangalan ko, ako ay mag-early retirement na," Tinio told dzBB. He said he would report to Dela Rosa on Wednesday.

Tinio said he and his wife were shocked with Duterte's announcement.

"Ako'y na-shock at nanginig ang aking katawan nang isa ako sa itinuro ng mahal na Pangulo sa illegal drug trade. 'Di ko alam kung ano basehan ng Pangulo, 'di ko alam kung sino ang nag-feed ng maling impormasyon sa mahal na Pangulo," the police official said.

Denial

In a text message to GMA News Online, Diaz denied Duterte's allegations.

"The report that I'm a drug protector is not true. Kilala n'yo ako," Diaz said in a text message.

"I will report to Camp Crame tomorrow (Wednesday) morning," he added.

‘I can clear my name’

Pagdilao on Tuesday said he could prove that he was not involved in the illegal drug trade as alleged by Duterte.

In a television interview, Pagdilao denied that he was protecting drug syndicates.

"Wala pong katotohanan na ako'y protektor ng iligal na droga. Matagal na po tayo lumalaban sa iligal na droga. Commander po tayo. Lagi po natin ipinag-uutos ay hulihin ang malaki o maliit man nagbebenta ng iligal na droga," Pagdilao said.

"Kaya ko pong linisin ang aking pangalan at alam ko po na ligal ang aking pinapagawa sa aking mga tauhan," he added.

Garbo has yet to give his comment on the allegations as of posting time.

Treason

Duterte said police officers who were involved in illegal drugs had committed treason, pointing out that their education was paid for with government funds.

"Ito yung mga tao who were given the honor to join the academies of our country, be it the PNP or PMA at the expense of the public and [made] a career there,"" Duterte said.

Garbo is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1981, Loot belongs to Class 1982, Tinio is a member of Class 1985 while Pagdilao and Diaz are "mistahs" in Class 1984.

"All along, tayong mga mamayan thought we are being protected by the police," Duterte said.

"Masakit pakinggan kasi ginastusan mo, pinag-aral mo, pati medyas at sapatos, gastos mo, tapos you commit, by any language, it is treason," he added.

Bato to listen to generals

Dela Rosa, who was also present at the PAF anniversary, said his office was open to the generals named by Duterte, but admitted that he could not compel those who have retired from service to meet him.

“I will talk to them and I will listen to their explanation. ‘Yung mga retired na, I cannot compel them to talk to them because they are no longer under my jurisdiction. They are no longer under my command,” Dela Rosa told reporters.

Dela Rosa would not elaborate as to Duterte's allegations, saying “all intelligence reports are submitted to him.”

The PNP chief said that while he was sad that his upper classmen were linked to illegal drugs, he stressed that his duty to the Filipino people came first.

“The President has zero tolerance on drugs...We have a job to do. Masakit man sakin, in as much as I don’t want to hurt my upper classmen, I have a duty before the Filipino people so we have to do this,” Dela Rosa said.

‘A dirty fight’

Duterte, in his speech, stressed his campaign promise to rid the country of illegal drugs in six months time. He again promised his full support to the authorities who may face legal issues while running after criminals.

“It's going to be a dirty fight, it's going to be a bloody fight. I am not apologizing for it,” the President said.

“Lahat ng madidisgrasya at magkaka-kaso in fulfillment of your duties as public authorities, akin yan, mine and mine alone. I assume full, legal responsibility. Huwag kayong matakot basta nasa tama kayo,” Duterte said.

Duterte also cited former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who considered the drug menace as a threat to national security.

National security threat

In her second state address in 2002, Arroyo instructed the Armed Forces of the Philippines to go against drug lords, calling them “enemies of the state.”

“With the drug menace now elevated to the level of a national security problem and no longer just a police problem, I am instructing the Armed Forces of the Philippines to field military resources for intelligence and to field soldiers in drug raids in support of civilian law enforcement. Drug lords will be treated as enemies of the State,” Arroyo said then. —NB/ALG, GMA News