PRO-6 starts adjudicating WV cops in narco-list

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 has started probing its personnel who are on the PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) narco list.

But Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, temporarily declined to give out the number of Western Visayas cops who are being adjudicated.

The numbers are part of the 357 active PNP members who were included in the latest PRRD list.

In legal parlance, adjudication is the legal term by which an arbiter or judge reviews evidence and argumentation, including legal reasoning set forth by opposing parties or litigants to come to a decision which determines rights and obligations between the parties involved.

In this case, Malong said adjudicating a cop in the PRRD list would involved complete background investigation.

Aside from his or her professional work, “a social investigation would also be done. Their properties – just like lifestyle check – and connections would also be checked.”

Malong said she could not ascertain if more names would be downloaded on top of what was already forwarded to the Regional Adjudication Board, which is headed by the PRO-6 deputy regional director for administration (DRDA).

The board has not confirmed if the 34 policemen who were earlier probed by PRO-6 for their alleged involvement in illegal activities are also on the latest PRRD list.

The result of the investigation would be forwarded to the National Adjudication Board for validation.

Earlier, PNP chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa said that he asked the President to give the PNP a chance to evaluate and validate its officers

He stressed, though, that the 357 cops on the PRRD list are presumed innocent for now.

Meanwhile, controversial Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido appeared to be part of those who will be adjudicated.

But since he was only assigned at PRO-6 late on October 2019 until Feb. 5, 2020, other police regional offices would also be adjudicating him.

These include PRO-8 and PRO-11 where he was previously assigned.

In the case of civilians such as politicians and businessmen who are on the PRRD list, Malong clarified that the names were not forwarded to them for investigation.