9 WV cops dismissed as PRO-6 strengthens anti-drugs drive

By: Jennifer P. Rendon 

For the nth time, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) declared that the fight against illegal drugs will still be on top of its campaign under the new leadership of Lieutenant General Archie Gamboa.

Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, said the fight against illegal drugs must be coupled with internal cleansing efforts of the PNP.

“Under my watch, I will not tolerate personnel involved in illegal drugs,” he said adding, “I will not hesitate to dismiss more, once we have proven that our personnel have committed grave offenses.”

In fact, PRO-6 already dismissed nine policemen because of their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Pamuspusan identified the relieved policemen as Police Officer 3 (PO3) Charlie Blanza, PO1 Angelo Cañal, PO1 Henson Digon, and PO2 Victor Jimenez.

All of them were administratively charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

Also dismissed were Patrolman Kenneth Escolta, Pat. John Paul Talaban, Staff Sergeant Jojie Salahid, Pat. Joelito Colantro, Jr., and Corporal Pedrito Lupo for testing positive for illegal drugs use.

But it won’t stop there.

Pamuspusan said seven more police officers were endorsed to the PNP national headquarters and recommended for dismissal.

On the other hand, one case was archived after the officer involved was dismissed for going AWOL (absent without official leave) while another is presently detained.

Since the PNP is now under Gamboa’s leadership, “so much is expected from us in terms of sustaining our gains in the campaign against illegal drugs and corruption,” Pamuspusan said.

With internal cleansing as its main priority, the region’s top cop reiterated that internal cleansing is not just about ridding the PNP ranks of scalawags or personnel who are involved in illegal drugs.

“But it’s also about how we carry or conduct ourselves as police officers,” Pamuspusan said.

He said they will give premium on their counter-intelligence efforts.

“I have given directive to our Regional Intelligence Dickson to come up with a counter-intelligence team headed by an officer who will function as counterpart of the IMEG,” he said.

The Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) is the PNP’s primary unit for information gathering and conduct of offensive operations against erring police personnel.