MANILA – After Kerwin Espinosa revealed names of cops allegedly involved in drug trade, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno said that only minority of police officials are involved in drug trade and not the Philippine National Police (PNP) as a whole.
“Only a handful of police officers are really involved in the drug trade, and those rotten eggs does not define the whole PNP organization,” he said.
“The PNP in the current administration lives by the ideals of service, integrity and discipline,” he added.
In line with this, he directed the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) and PNP-Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to conduct speedy investigations on the police officers named “drug protectors” by Kerwin Espinosa during the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing last Wednesday.
The DILG chief also welcomed Senate investigation being led by Senator Panfilo Lacson, echoing that it would help to define the veracity of the allegations.
He said such investigations would eventually shed light on the alleged involvement of some police officers and local officials in the illegal drug trade.
The police officers named by Espinosa had been placed on floating status and confined at the Personnel and Holding and Accounting Unit in Camp Crame.
Among names mentioned include Police Chief Insp. Leo Laraga of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) – Region 8, Supt. Marvin Marcos, head of CIDG-Region 8, Chief Insp. Wilfredo Abordo, P03 Dennis Torrefiel and a certain General Dolina also of Region 8. (PNA) RMA/AMD/RSM