Cop’s death a warning to rogue officers – PNP chief

CEBU CITY—The death of a policeman during a drug bust in Mandaue City should serve as a stern warning to rogue police officers, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said Friday.

Albayalde said the operation that led to the death of Senior Insp. Raymond Hortezuela last Sunday is part of the PNP’s crackdown on scalawags in the force.

“This is part of our internal cleansing. The death of a senior inspector should serve as a stern warning to erring policemen. We will not relent, we will not relax on our campaign against these policemen involved in illegal activities,” he said.

Albayalde warned that any wrongdoing committed by a police officer will not be tolerated.

“Even those policemen who do not wear helmets or those texting while driving and those who will be caught gambling will be charged and relieved from their posts,” he said.

Hortezuela was shot dead by fellow policemen after he resisted arrest during a drug bust in Barangay Tipolo.

Last Wednesday night, another policeman assigned at the Ginatilan Police Station in southern Cebu was shot by an unidentified gunman.

PO3 Jonathan Tilos was shot several times while he was about to board his pick-up truck outside a fitness gym in Barangay Poblacion, Alegria town.

Hortezuela and Tilos were on the government’s list of police officers involved in the illegal drug trade.

Albayalde corrected the pronouncement earlier of Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, chief of the Central Visayas police, that Hortezuela’s relatives may not receive benefits.

“I think they can still get benefits. There has to be due process since he was not convicted yet,” said Albayalde.

Debold had said that because of his alleged involvement in illegal drugs, Hortezuela will not be given burial honors and that his family will not receive benefits.

Albayalde was in Cebu City for the opening of the Tactical, Survival & Arms (TACS) Expo 2018 at SM City Cebu.

“As one of the law enforcement agencies in the country, the PNP is happy to note that we have earnest partners who are advocates of self-defense, security and survival,” he said.

He lauded the holding of the expo since it promotes responsible gun ownership.

The expo, which will last until tomorrow, has a one-stop shop for those who want to have their firearms licensed.