13 cops in questioned Pampanga drug ops in 2013 placed on floating status

The 13 policemen who figured in the questioned buy-bust operation in Pampanga in 2013 has been placed on floating status, PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said on Wednesday.

The move came after the case of the allegedly irregular anti-drug raid again came under scrutiny in a Senate investigation the day before.

“All 13 are on floating status in various units where they are assigned at present,” Banac said.

Floating status refers to when an officer has no specific assignment while remaining on active duty.

Banac said the final decision on the 13 policemen would be known once the Department of Justice finishes its probe on them.

In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong Jr., former chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, identified the policemen as the following:

• Superintendent Rodney Raymundo Baloyo IV;
• Senior Inspector Joven de Guzman Jr.;
• Senior Police Officer 1 Jules Maniago;
• Senior Police Officer 1 Donald Roque;
• Senior Police Officer 1 Ronald Santos;
• Senior Police Officer 1 Rommel Vital;
• Senor Police Officer 1 Alcindor Tinio;
• Senior Police Officer 1 Eligio Valeroso;
• Police Officer 3 Dindo Dizon;
• Police Officer 3 Gilbert De Vera;
• Police Officer 3 Romeo Guerrero Jr.;
• Police Officer 3 Dante Dizon; and
• Police Officer 2 Anthony Lacsamana

The officers allegedly seized 200 kilos of shabu from the operation in November 2013 but only declared confiscating 30 kilos, giving rise to the suspicion that they sold the huge undeclared amount back to the clandestine market.

The said cops were initially ordered dismissed in 2014 on administrative charges of grave misconduct. The order was never implemented.

After filing an appeal in March 2016, the officers were instead demoted to a rank lower.

PNP chief Police General Oscar Albayalde was the acting police director of Pampanga when the drug operation took place. —NB, GMA News