Two ranking police officials in Metro Manila, identified as Supt. Robin King Sarmiento and Supt. Maristelo Manalo, are also implicated.
“We are not saying that they are guilty. We just want to know the truth and make sure that they will be available during the investigation,” said Police Director Carmelo Valmoria, head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)..
He said Sarmiento was sacked as deputy chief for Operations of Parañaque City Police while Manalo cannot be relieved as he is under schooling.
Meanwhile, aside from the two, 24 other policemen — 19 of them Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCO), or those with ranks from Police Officer 1 to Senior Police Officer 4 — were sacked from their posts, said Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, director of the Central Luzon regional police.
“This is to pave the way for the investigation being conducted by NCRPO and to make the concerned personnel available for inquiry and investigation,” said Petrasanta.
The NCRPO conducted the investigation following the killing of investigation on the killing of Chief Insp. Elmer Santiago in an ambush last April 16 in Mandaluyong City.
Santiago was killed after he made a diagram, which surfaced later, showing the involvement of several police officials in the illegal drug trade.
“This is really a sensitive issue. We would like really to get to the bottom of this,” said Senior Supt. Wilben Mayor, spokesman for the Office of the Chief PNP, when asked of the progress of the case.
The investigation is being led by Senior Supt. Wilson Caubat. — KBK, GMA News
