Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao said they are gathering evidence against the three – former Region 6 Director Chief Supt. Bernardo Diaz, Chief Supt. Joel Pagdilao who headed the National Capital Region Police Office, and former Quezon City Police Director Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio.
Casurao said a group of lawyers are looking into the intelligence report cited by Duterte.
“You know the president is very clear on this matter kaya ayaw niya (he does not want) that the investigation will drag on,” Casurao said. “In fact the instruction given to the investigating team is they should complete the investigation within seven days.”
The officers named by Duterte met Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa later Wednesday.
Duterte also said two retired generals allegedly have links to the illegal drug trade: Vicente Loot, who is now mayor of Daanbantayan, Cebu, and former Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo.
Since they are no longer in the service, the two will be investigated by civilian authorities – Loot, as a mayor, by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Garbo by the Department of Justice.
Casurao said if the investigation proceeds according to plan, the findings could be checked by an ad hoc committee as early as next week. The respondents will then be given five days to answer the charges against them.
Casurao said the investigators expect to release the final results of the probe within one month.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa said Duterte might reveal more names of people involved in the illegal drug trade. He refused to elaborate saying he did not want to preempt Duterte.
“Intayin na lang ninyo (Just wait),” Dela Rosa told reporters.
Police officials deny allegations
Duterte named the five senior officers in a nationally televised speech on the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force on Tuesday.
“At this time, I order them relieved from their assignments and report to the director general,” he said. “I would like to talk to them but certainly I would expect the police commission to do their thing.”
He directed the Napolcom to begin the formal investigation into the allegations and not to give him a “sarswela” or theatrics.
Garbo has not yet commented on Duterte’s allegations but the four others have denied their involvement in illegal drugs and said they were willing to undergo investigation to answer the charges.
Dela Rosa said he met with Diaz, Pagdilao and Tinio and described the encounter as emotional.
“Malungkot sila (They were sad) and they wanted to explain their side. And I listened to their side,” he told reporters after the meeting. “I want to cry with them.”
He refused to give details of the meeting, saying it was “purely intimate and personal.”
The pictures shown above, is of the meeting distributed to reporters showed two boxes of tissue paper in the middle of a long table.
Dela Rosa said the officers promised to “give their 100 percent cooperation” to the Napolcom investigation.
The PNP chief was seated at the head of the table with Pagdilao and Diaz to his left and Tinio to his right. He and the other officers appeared somber.
The three officers are all his seniors at the Philippine Military Academy where he graduated in 1986.
Despite the public disclosure made by Duterte, Malacañang said the specific evidence against the retired and active duty officers will not be released as part of due process.
Presidential Communications Sec. Martin Andanar told CNN Philippines the evidence should not yet be released to the public “as it may prejudice the administrative and criminal investigation/s and case/s against them.”
“A premature release (of the evidence) through the media may also violate the constitutional right to due process of those involved,” he said.
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