Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa has approved the dismissal of the three cops involved in a controversial anti-illegal drug operation in Antipolo, Rizal last May.
“I received the folder on October 17 and I approved the dismissal of the three,” Gamboa said in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Gamboa identified the three as M/Sgt. Donald Roque, M/Sgt. Rommel Vital and Cpl. Romeo Guerrero.
On May 4, 2019, the three policemen reportedly shot the vehicle of a certain Arnold Gramaje Jr. after he declined the cops’ order to get out of his car.
The victim sped off his car and sought refuge in his house which the three cops raided and took away cash amounting to PHP30,000 and some gadgets.
Aside from the three policemen, the IAS has also recommended the dismissal of Lt. Joven de Guzman but Gamboa said he could not dismiss police officer since he was only charged with a lesser offense of less grave misconduct.
Gamboa said he returned the case folder of de Guzman to IAS “for him to be tried for a graver offense”.
“Because in the course of the investigation, they have found out that the degree of the participation of an official is far more than what he was charged for,” Gamboa added.
Nevertheless, Gamboa slapped de Guzman with a 59-day suspension.
The four cops were also listed as among the so-called 13 ‘ninja cops’ or policemen allegedly involved in the reselling of seized illegal drugs in Pampanga in 2013.
The Pampanga anti-drug raid was the subject of Senate investigation that prompted Gen. Oscar Albayalde to relinquish his post as PNP chief and to go on “non-duty status” ahead of his Nov. 8 mandatory retirement from the service.
Albayalde allegedly tried to intervene in the implementation of the dismissal order against the 13 “ninja” cops when he was still acting chief of the Pampanga provincial police office. (PNA)
