'Ninja cop' in Pampanga, Antipolo drug ops dismissed from service

Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa on Monday said he has ordered the dismissal of Police Lieutenant Joven de Guzman, one of the alleged "ninja cops" in the Pampanga drug raid in 2013.

Gamboa made the announcement during a press briefing in Camp Crame.

"I have ordered the dismissal from police service of Police Lieutenant Joven De Guzman of Antipolo City Police Station who led a team of seven PNP personnel that figured in a highly irregular activity in Antipolo City early this year and were recommended for dismissal by the Internal Affairs Service as a consequence of their actions," Gamboa said.

De Guzman was also involved in a controversial buy-bust operation in Antipolo City last May. The other six policemen in the Antipolo raid have already been relieved from police service.

According to Gamboa, De Guzman was initially penalized with subsequent findings of guilt for grave misconduct.

Gamboa earlier said De Guzman's punishment was temporarily meted with only 59 days of suspension because the "less grave neglect of duty" found against him was not strong enough to be penalized with dismissal from service.

Gamboa then instructed the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to review his case.

Meanwhile, Gamboa said De Guzman could still appeal the dismissal order.

Gamboa also said De Guzman has at least 10 days to answer the accusations against him. If De Guzman fails to explain his side, the dismissal order would be final and executory.

"Puwede pa siyang mag-file ng motion for reconsideration to my office. Kasi part ng due process 'yun. But, 'yun kasing nangyari, ni-remand ko, that's why the investigation was very swift because he did not answer," Gamboa said.

"Without his participation, the case went ahead and it's not even required by law that he will answer. So pag di siya sumagot, wala siyang bagong ebidensya na iprisinta," he added. —KBK, GMA News