Dagupan police chief sacked over alleged drug links

MANILA, Philippines – The National Police has relieved the chief of police of Dagupan City after he was name-dropped by one of two arrested suspects linked to the shabu laboratory in La Union raided by anti-narcotics agents early this month. Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome identified the concerned officer as Senior Superintendent Dionisio Boromeo, who was relieved from his post to pave the way for an impartial investigation into the allegations. Boromeo is temporarily re-assigned to the Police Holding and Accounting Unit of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management at Camp Crame. Superintendent Mario Verzosa has taken over his post. "As of now the director of CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) himself (Chief Supt. Raul Castañeda) is in La Union and personally supervising the investigation after details have been taken from Police Regional Office 1," Bartolome said in an interview at Camp Crame. Boromeo was linked to La Union shabu laboratory case after one of the two arrested suspects claimed to be his "asset." The July 9 raid in Bimotobot village in Naguillan town yielded chemicals that can reportedly produce P1 trillion worth of high-grade methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu. Bartolome said investigators are determining the veracity of the claim of one of the arrested suspects. - GMANews.TV