Cop tagged as ‘drug protector’ to be assigned outside of Iloilo province

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The policeman who was accused as a “drug protector” might be shipped out of Iloilo province soon.

This, as the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) said it is just awaiting the relief order of the unnamed uniformed personnel.

Major Rolando Araño, IPPO spokesperson, said that the relief is necessary so that the officer will not influence the ongoing investigation.

“Once he’s out of IPPO, the PRO-6 will take cognizance of the case,” he said.

Reports on the said personnel protecting drug pushers surfaced following the arrest of a drug pusher in Pototan, Iloilo on July 19.

During the custodial debriefing, Robert Kristian Dacara, 38, of Rizal St., P. Ledesma Ward, Pototan, named the police personnel as his protector.

A Tokhang surrender, the suspect yielded around P578,000 worth of illegal drugs.

Dacara allegedly gave P5,000 weekly protection money to the said policeman.

Following his revelation, the concerned officer was immediately disarmed.

But even before Dacara’s arrest, the cop had been relieved as an investigator at the Pototan Municipal Police Station more than a month prior to that.

He was assigned to the IPPO Provincial Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (PPHAU) when Dacara was arrested.

Currently, the IPPO Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Unit is conducting an investigation against the said policeman.

Araño said the investigation kicked off to determine whether Dacara’s allegation has basis or not.

“Once we gather enough evidence against him, we could be filing appropriate against him,” he said.