18 cops resign after being linked to drug trade

PRESIDENT FERDINAND Marcos Jr. accepted the resignation of 18 police officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs activities upon the recommendation of the National Police Commission Ad Hoc Advisory Group that investigated them.

Marcos branded the officials as “unscrupulous law enforcers and others involved in the highly nefarious drug trade.”

In a letter to Marcos, National Police Chief Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the Ad Hoc Advisory Group conducted a thorough investigation into the alleged involvement of 953 officers in illegal drugs activities and that they tendered their courtesy resignation pending the investigation.

Of the 953, the Ad Hoc Advisory Group recommended only accepted the resignation of the 18 officers:

1. BGEN Remus Balingasa Medina O-10038

2. BGEN Randy Quines Peralta O-05124

3. BGEN Pablo Gacayan Labra II O-03734

4. COL Rogarth Bulalacao Campo O-08477

5. COL Rommel Javier Ochave O-08085

6. COL Rommel Allaga Velasco O-08084

7. COL Robin King Sarmiento O-03552

8. COL Fernando Reyes Ortega O-07478

9. COL Rex Ordoño Derilo O-10549

10.COL Julian Tesorero Olonan O-12395

11. COL Rolando Tapon Portera O-07520

12. COL Lawrence Bonifacio Cajipe O-12905

13. COL Dario Milagrosa Menor O-07757

14. COL Joel Kagayed Tampis O-08180

15. COL Michael Arcillas David O-07686

16. COL Igmedio Belonio Bernaldez O-12544

17. COL Rodolfo Calope Albotra Jr O-08061

18. COL Marvin Barba Sanchez O-08043

According to Acorda, these officials are continuously being monitored. He also said that the necessary “orders for their relief from their present positions will be immediately issued and the (resigned) officers will be assigned to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit, DPRM (Directorate for Personnel and Records Management) to preclude them from exerting further influence and/or performing illegal activities using their positions.”

At the start of his administration, Marcos vowed “to clean up the ranks of the PNP, saying that the drug problem would not exist without the involvement of police officials.”

He said the government “will relentlessly continue our fight against drug syndicates, shutting down their illegal activities. We will shut down their activities and dismantle their network of operations.” (Mindanao Examiner)