Dismissal of raps against 27 ‘narco’ cops endorsed

PALO, LEYTE — After nearly four months of conducting a thorough investigation, the Regional Internal Affairs Service of the Police Regional Office-8 has recommended for the dismissal of administrative cases against 27 policemen earlier charged for links to illegal drug activities in Leyte.

RIAS head, Superintendent Rogelio Almedilla however said the recommendation has yet to be acted upon, and still at the office of PRO-8 Director, Chief Superintendent Elmer Beltejar for review and approval.

The former chief of the Albuera Police, Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, filed the cases against the so-called narco policemen, who have been confined at the PRO-8 personnel holding center, and still to undergo monitoring and random drug tests, Almedilla said.

The basis of the filing the cases was only the affidavit of the late Albuera town mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., which was not corroborated by other testimonies and documentary evidences, said Almedilla, adding that RIAS could not do anything except to endorse the dismissal of the cases due to insufficiency of evidence.

The respondents are: Superintendents Reynaldo Turlao and Neil Montano; Chief Inspectors Wilfredo Abordo and Jonathan Camacho; Senior Inspectors Rio Tan, Eufracio Javines, Berniede Magamay, and Benjamin Lodo, Senior Police Officer 2 Kenneth Valley; SPO1s Jeffrey Magkilat and Romeo Blanco; PO3s Wenceslao Lumakim, Robert Arafol, Adonis Kaindoy, Edwin Jao, Roderick Ingeniero, and Mark Dequinto; PO2s Kristian Selencio and Dominique Petere; and PO1s Hefner Doble, Ronelo Felizarta, and Leoncio Llamazares Jr.