2 execs axed after cops’ arrest in Pasig buy-bust

MANILA — National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Director Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday relieved two police commanders from their posts after the arrest of two cops in drug buy-bust operations in Pasig City.

Eleazar ordered the ‘immediate’ relief of Chief Insp. Abraham Satorre, head of the District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) of the Eastern Police District, and Insp. Edward Olmedo, commander of Pasig City’s Police Community Precinct (PCP) 9, for command responsibility.

“The relief of their commanders is immediate, while internal investigation is in progress,” Eleazar said in a statement.

“It is hard for me to believe that the immediate commanders of such rogue policemen are totally unaware of their men’s behavior. I expect the commanders to know their men thoroughly. At the least, the commanders must also observe and note the lifestyles and behavior of their men,” he added.

On Feb. 22, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents arrested PO3 Mark Vesta, assigned at EPD-DSOU and PO2 Marlou Roldan, of Pasig PCP-9, in a drug buy-bust in Barangay Buting, Pasig City.

Vesta and Roldan were reportedly with a suspected big-time drug pusher identified as Raymond Ryan Cruz when the PDEA agents conducted a drug buy-bust operation.

Both policemen sustained gunshot wounds in a brief gunfight between the PDEA agents and the drug suspects.

The PDEA will take custody of Vesta and Roldan after their release from the hospitals.

Eleazar, meanwhile, lauded the police operatives for the arrest of ‘rogue’ policemen who face dismissal from service as well as other administrative and criminal charges.

“The NCRPO will be relentless in the implementation of the program. It is right that these rogue cops involved in illegal drugs are caught by any law enforcement agency. Criminal and administrative charges will be filed against them immediately, and they should be dismissed from the service,” Eleazar said.