Police hooked on prohibited drugs?

Police hooked on prohibited drugs?
Based on intelligence reports, a large number of new policemen, even senior officers, in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao—specifically in Lamitan, Basilan, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, Patikul, Sulu—are hooked on prohibited drugs, including shabu. Civilians are flabbergasted to see these policemen frequently visiting drug dens even in broad daylight.

Director General Nicanor Bartolome of the Philippine National Police should look into these reports and order the dismissal of these scalawag policemen and officers. Many policemen are now drug addicts, and more and more of them are being dragged into that vicious trap of addiction. Bartolome should move fast, before it’s too late.

—NURHUDA J. BAIRUDDIN, SALMA HALIMA CADDAYAW, SAIDA H. TAMPILISAN,
Parang, Maguindanao
http://opinion.inquirer.net/14747/cops-hooked-on-drugs

175 cops sacked for drug-related offenses – DILG

Posted on 30 Jan 2011 at 5:30pm

Anthony Vargas

MANILA, Philippines – One hundred seventy-five police personnel have been dismissed from the service for drug-related offenses since the assumption of the Aquino administration, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said Sunday.

More than half of the dismissed cops were users, peddlers or protectors of drug syndicates, Robredo said.

“If a policeman is involved or were involved in drugs, there’s nothing to talk about here, they will automatically undergo summary dismissal proceedings,” Robredo said in a statement.

The Interior secretary said the National Police Commission (Napolcom), which he chairs, is currently reviewing misconduct cases against policemen, including those related to drugs. Misconduct cases used to be handled by the Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police.

“We want to erase the public’s perceptions or doubts on why a policeman will investigate misconduct cases against his fellow policeman,” Robredo explained.

But Robredo also offered assurances of assistance for police personnel facing harassment charges.

“If a policeman is facing charges or being charged for doing his job, then we will help them by providing legal aid . . . but, if he (policemen) commits mistakes, then we will punish him,” Robredo said.

He said a P5-million fund has already been set aside for lawyers to handle harassment cases against policemen.

Caloocan precinct chief, 2 cops sacked for drugs

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:11:00 01/14/2011

Filed Under: Police, Illegal drugs

MANILA, Philippines—Irked by reports that his men were caught sniffing drugs, Metro Manila police commander Director Nicanor Bartolome on Friday ordered random drug tests in all Metro Manila police stations.

At the same time, Bartolome ordered the relief of Police Officer 2 Armando Jimenez and PO3 Hermil Lumba of Caloocan police after the two tested positive for illegal drugs. Jimenez and Lumba were disarmed and placed under restrictive custody after the test.

Bartolome also sacked Senior Inspector Albert Ebdane, the Caloocan precinct commander, and charged him administratively for command responsibility.

“I will not tolerate any misdeeds of any of my personnel,” Bartolome said.

Meanwhile, PO1 Antonio Carmona and PO1 Elvin Tabora, who were caught on camera engaged in a pot session, tested negative for drug use but would still be charged administratively.

The random drug tests will be unannounced, Bartolome said. "It will be done at any time of the day and night. The tests will cover everyone—officers, non-commissioned personnel
and our civilian employees. No one will be exempted."

The Makati Police Station recently conducted a surprise drug test on its personnel.

More sleepless nights in store for ‘Jasmine;’ cop still missing

Inquirer Headlines / Metro http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20110112-314108/More-sleepless-nights-in-store-for-Jasmine-cop-still-missing

By Miko Morelos

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Posted date: January 12, 2011

MANILA, Philippines—Since her harrowing ordeal on New Year’s Eve, allegedly in the hands of a Manila police officer who is now the object of a manhunt, “Jasmine” (not her real name) feels the need to be awake all the time. She fears that if she falls asleep, she would not know what might happen to her next. “I‘d never know what hit me. I still fear for myself,” she told the Inquirer in an interview at a safe house where a round-the-clock security detail was sent to keep watch over her by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), which has kept her in their custody. Jasmine was allegedly raped by PO3 Antonio Bautista Jr. on December 31 last year inside the Manila Police District headquarters. He is also accused of taking P4,000 from the victim. The officer has been missing since the incident, and the Manila Police District (MPD) and the city government are turning to the public to help locate him. “We encourage the public to give us any information they may have on his whereabouts,” said MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rong. Also under the custody of the NCRPO is the victim’s live-in partner “John,” who has brought Jasmine’s case to the attention of Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda Acosta on Wednesday. The Office will represent Jasmine in the legal proceedings, the Inquirer learned. Life has been tough for the Cebuano couple who make a living by hawking a variety of items from hand towels to leather belts and fruits in Manila. Her ordeal only made things worse, Jasmine said. She cannot walk at length after undergoing surgery earlier. In May, she lost her third child after an ectopic pregnancy. The couple’s two children live in Cebu. For her safety, she has been restricted to quarters until authorities track down and arrest Bautista. “On the average, I sleep for two hours in the night. Sudden movements rouse me from sleep,” she said. She lies awake in her room most of the day, watching television or listening to music, but she pointed out that these do not keep her at peace with herself. “Bautista might send someone to harm me,” she said matter-of-factly. Police Director Nicanor Bartolome said he sympathized with the victim. “I understand the ordeal that she went through, that’s why I have ordered our personnel to schedule counseling sessions to help her overcome the trauma,” Bartolome said. The NCRPO likewise provided John with some capital and a wooden pushcart so he could restore some sense of normalcy in their lives, the official said. “They asked us for this because they did not want to depend too much on what we were providing them,” the NCRPO chief continued. The MPD has filed grave misconduct charges against Bautista, said MPD Director Chief Supt. Robearto Rongavilla, who admitted that the policeman’s actuations have tainted the image of the city’s police force, often referred to as Manila’s Finest. Tracker teams have been dispatched to Manila, Quezon City and the neighboring provinces of Bulacan, Laguna and Cavite in search of the suspect. With a report from Jaymee Gamil

Policeman gets medals for bravery

By JEAN FERNANDO
January 8, 2011, 4:14pm

MANILA, Philippines — National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head, Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome bestowed honors last Friday on a police officer who was wounded when he shot it out with three Quezon City Police policemen who attempted to kidnap an Indian national in Pasay City last Dec. 20.

Manhunt on for Manila cop tagged in alleged rape of detainee

Manhunt on for Manila cop tagged in alleged rape of detainee
(The Philippine Star) Updated January 08, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (12) View comments


Bautista

MANILA, Philippines – Police tracker teams were sent to the provinces yesterday to hunt down a Manila Police District policeman who allegedly raped and robbed a woman detainee in the MPD headquarters.

Pagwawala ng pulis ng Pasig na may dalang Armalite kuha sa video

Nakunan sa CCTV ang pagwawala ng isang pulis-Pasig habang bitbit ang kanyang Baby Armalite.

Face rape charge, cop in molest case told

By Karen Boncocan
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:51:00 01/04/2011

Filed Under: Crime, Police

MANILA, Philippines—The cop accused of molesting a vendor in Manila New Year’s Eve should face the rape charge to be filed against him, said a police official Tuesday.

Deputy chief Pasig City Police na sinasabing nagwala habang may bitbit na baby armalite, sinibak

Posted: 12:29 PM 01/03/2011

Sinibak na sa pwesto ang Deputy Chief ng Pasig City Police na si Chief Inspector Oscar Magtibang na nakunan ng Close Circuit Television (CCTV) na nagwawala habang bitbit ang kaniyang baby armalite.

Sinabi ni National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome na bukod sa pagsibak kay Magtibang ay ipinag-utos na rin niya na disarmahan ito.

Cop goes ballistic in Pasig City

MANILA, Philippines - A Pasig City policeman on Friday went ballistic after security guards of the Ortigas Center accosted him because of an alleged parking violation.