PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome has ordered the relief from post of 20 officers and personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) who were linked to a series of irregularities and illegal activities.
Bartolome instructed the Director for Personnel and Records Management, Police Director Elpidio De Asis, to reassign these officers to the PNP Holding and Administrative Unit (PHAU) to ensure their availability to face further investigation.
At the same time, Bartolome ordered the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) to subject these officers to Pre-Charge Investigation to determine their criminal and administrative culpability.
“My instructions to DIDM is to throw the book at these deviant police officers. But first, they must be removed from the environment where they committed the alleged infraction in order for them not to unduly influence the investigation,” Bartolome said.
“This time, we will make sure that due process will work to the advantage of the police service and will not be used as a convenient excuse for these deviants to circumvent the law and PNP policy on internal discipline. The law shall prevail,” he added.
Those relieved from CIDG and reassigned to the PNP Holding and Administrative Unit (PHAU) of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) include SSupt Rhodel Sermonia, erstwhile Chief of CIDG Task Force Maverick, who is the subject of a complaint lodged by LPGMA partylist Rep. Arnel Ty for alleged obstruction of justice, unjust vexation, and violation of RA 6713.
The subject of a complaint for alleged robbery/ extortion and abduction of a Singaporean investor are Supt Honorio Agnila, erstwhile OIC of CIDG Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Division (AFCCD), CInsp Renato Ocampo, SPO2 Rene De Leon, SPO1 Rizaldy Dela Cruz, SPO1 Alejandro Abrogar Jr. and PO1 Rolando Blones.
Undergoing investigation for alleged infidelity in the custody of prisoners over the escape of Korean fugitive Kom Sung Kon are CInsp Ruben Lacuesta, former Chief of the Southern Metro Manila CIDT, SPO2 Jose Yong, PO3 Noel Bunal, PO3 Joaquin Rafael Florendo and PO2 Percival Villaluz.
Facing investigation for alleged robbery/extortion of 2 Taiwanese are CInsp Bienvenido Reydado, SPO1 Veronica Villareal and PO3 William Geneblazo.
Bartolome also ordered the relief of five more CIDG officers in Region 8 who were eventually reassigned to PHAU over PDEA reports of their alleged involvement in illegal activities in Ormoc City. They are CInsp Bernardo Lao, Deputy Chief of CIDG Region 8, SPO1 Alejo Lucero, PO2 Jun Oliva, PO1 Tata Villamor and PO1 Bobot Castelo.
The Chief PNP instructed CIDG Chief, Police Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. to submit all initial investigation reports to DIDM to speed up the investigation.
