11 Bulacan cops in 'fabricated' buy-bust ordered relieved from posts

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa has directed the administrative relief and restrictive custody of 11 Bulacan policemen who are allegedly involved in a fabricated buy-bust operation in San Jose del Monte.

In a press statement late Thursday night, Gamboa said the supposed unlawful actions of the police officers are "purely their own and are not sanctioned by any official orders, policy, or regulation."

“I will not tolerate any wrongdoing in the service. Those accused must be made to answer for their criminal acts. In the meantime, it is best that they are relieved from duty to eliminate any suspicion of whitewash or coddling," Gamboa said.

Eleven operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan are facing criminal complaints before the Department of Justice for alleged kidnapping and killing two men during a fabricated buy-bust operation in February.

The charges were for kidnapping or serious illegal detention with murder, violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The widow of victim Erwin Mergal, Jasmin, and the mother of victim Jim Cordero, Rochill Galvez, have filed charges against CDEU CSJDM chief Police Major Leo Commendador dela Rosa, and Police Staff Sergeants Benjie Enconado, Jayson Legaspi, Irwin Yuson, Edmund Catubay Jr., Police Corporals Jay Leoncio, Herbert Hernandez, Raymond Bayan, Raul Malgapo and Patrolmen Erwin Sabido and Rusco Madla.

A police report stated that Mergal and Cordero were killed after engaging cops in a gunfight during a buy-bust operation conducted by the CDEU on February 18 along Pacolis Road in Barangay Gaya-gaya.

However, witnesses bared that the two victims were among the six men who were forcibly taken while passing by a certain Edwardo Macapanas’ house in Towerville in Barangay Santo Cristo on the night of February 13.

The PNP chief directed Central Luzon police chief Police Brigadier Rhodel Sermonia to place the accused cops under restrictive custody to ensure their availability to face further investigation.

He also said an administrative relief was done to preclude the possibility of exerting undue influence in the ongoing investigation by the DOJ Prosecution Service and the internal investigation by the PNP.

Gamboa vowed that the PNP leadership would cooperate in the incident's probe. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News