Pubdate: Tue, 22 Mar 2005
Source: Visayan Daily Star (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Visayan Daily Star
Contact:  http://www.visayandailystar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1688
Author: Gilbert Bayoran
Cited: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency http://www.pdea.gov.ph
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

SIX WV COPS CHARGED FOR BUNGLING DRUG RAPS

Six policemen in Western Visayas have been charged by the Philippine
Drug Enforcement Agency for the dismissal of drug-related offenses
they had filed in court.

Supt. Rolen Balquin yesterday said six more policemen are also being
investigated by the PDEA regional office for bungling drug cases filed
in court.

PDEA records show that 66 drug-related cases in Western Visayas were
dismissed and nine junked last year, by the court in Negros Occidental.

Balquin said government prosecutors and even PDEA personnel are also
covered by their investigations on the dismissal of drug cases in court.

A similar probe is also being undertaken by the Negros Occidental
police on orders of Senior Supt. Charles Calima, provincial police
director, after he learned that 55 of the 360 drug-related offenses
filed in 2003 and 2004, were dismissed by courts.

Calima said he will file administrative charges against policemen
found out to have bungled the drug-related offenses filed in court.

The dismissals of drug-related cases against offenders were attributed
by the PDEA to the failure of policemen named as witnesses to attend
court hearings, the inconsistency of their testimonies, and other
technicalities.

Balquin added that policemen found guilty of bungling such cases face
dismissal from the police service, and forfeiture of their benefits,
aside from criminal charges in court. These are stipulated in Section
92 of RA 9165, he said.

Meanwhile, the anti-drug campaign of PDEA got a boost with more than
50 troopers of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Group joining them in running
after drug peddlers and financiers of the illegal drug trade in Negros
Occidental.

Balquin said Calima wants to come up a massive anti-drug campaign in
the province.

Calima who used to be the executive officer of the PNP Anti-Illegal
Drugs Special Operations Task Force, said, "With the additional
manpower and by getting our acts together, we will be able to further
improve and strengthen our anti-illegal drugs campaign".
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