CLARK, Pampanga – President Rodrigo Duterte last Tuesday revealed the top police officials allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade or protection of drug syndicates.
“I am compelled by my sense of duty to tell you the police who contributed to deterioration of law and order in this country,” Duterte said in his speech at the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force here.
Duterte named former Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy director Gen. Marcelo Garbo Jr., Gen. Vicente Loot, Gen. Bernardo Diaz of Police Regional Office 6, former National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Joel Pagdilao, and former Quezon City Police District (QCPD) chief Edgardo Tinio
Garbo and Loot are already retired; the other three are still on active duty. Loot is incumbent mayor of Daanbantayan town in Cebu.
Duterte mentioned in his speech that Diaz was from Region 11.
“As of this time, I order them relieved from their assignments and report to the Director General (Ronald dela Rosa),” Duterte said.
Retired police general Marcelo Garbo the most senior among 5 generals whom President Rodrigo Duterte has accused of involvement in illegal drugs, said that the president was fed the wrong, poison info.
"This is a sad day for those who believe in righteousness, integrity, and honesty," retired Police Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr told Rappler Tuesday evening.
"I believe the President was fed by people close to him with wrong and poison information," added Garbo, who retired in March 2016 as the Deputy Chief of Administration or second-in-command of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Retired General and former PNP director Vicente Loot, now mayor of Daanbantayan, Cebu said "I will be tried by publicity. I hope I could be given the chance to clear my name."
Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao on Tuesday said he could prove to the public that he was not involved in the illegal drug trade as alleged by President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a television interview, Pagdilao denied that he was protecting drug syndicates.
"Wala pong katotohanan na ako'y protektor ng iligal na droga. Matagal na po tayo lumalaban sa iligal na droga. Commander po tayo. Lagi po natin ipinag-uutos ay hulihin ang malaki o maliit man nagbebenta ng iligal na droga," Pagdilao said.
"Kaya ko pong linisin ang aking pangalan at alam ko po na ligal ang aking pinapagawa sa aking mga tauhan," he added.
Pagdilao, a former chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, added he was willing to undergo a lifestyle check.
"Nakahanda ako ipagtanggol ang aking sarili at pangalan ng Pagdilao," he said, even as he admitted that Duterte's pronouncements saddened him.
Pagdilao also admitted that the president's accusation had caught him off guard.
"Sa totoo lang, wala akong inkling na mababanggit 'yung pangalan ko," he said on GMA News TV's "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho". "Because for the past 32 years talagang ginampanan ko ang trabaho ko ng tapat, may pagmamahal sa trabaho, lalong lalo na itong paglaban sa iligal na droga."
"The records speak for itself. Hindi ko hinaluan ng kalokohan ang aking pagseserbisyo."
Former Quezon City Police head Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio denied his involvement in drugs and said he is willing to face the President to clear his name.
“I was in shock. Nanginig aking laman noong nalaman ko na isa ako sa mga heneral na allegedly involved sa drugs (I was angered when I learned that I was among the generals allegedly involved in drugs),” Tinio said in an interview over DZMM radio on Tuesday.
Tinio said he never engaged in any illegal drug activity from the time he graduated from Philippine Military Academy as a second lieutenant in 1986.
“I am more than willing to undergo an investigation and a lie detector test, to face my accuser and face the President. I can see him eye to eye and tell him not involved in any shenanigans and nefarious activities,” he said.
“Kung may tauhan akong gumawa ng kalokohan, imbestigahan mga tauhan ko sa QCPD (If one of my men committed a wrongdoing, investigate them at QCPD) and let the ax fall where it may,” Tinio said.
Tinio, who is set to retire next year, said after clearing his name, he would opt to retire early from police service.
Police general Bernardo Diaz denied the accusation against him and said that he will report to Camp Crame.
"The report that I'm a drug protector is not true. Kilala n'yo ako," Chief Superintendent Bernardo Diaz, former Police Regional Office 6 director, said in a text message. He added: "I will report to Camp Crame tomorrow (Wednesday) morning."
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