Eastern Visayas top cop to run after uniformed men involved in drug peddling

PALO, Leyte, March 25 (PNA) - The police regional office here vowed to identify and jail all police officers engaged in illegal drugs use and trade.

Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Jose Erwin Villacorte vowed to cleanse all police units in the region from drug peddlers and coddlers.

This after police officer 2 Neil Centino, 33, presently assigned at Tabontabon, Leyte town police station was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation on March 15, 2016 in Marasbaras, Tacloban City.

The operation was headed by Chief Insp. Steve Castillote of Tacloban city police office and confiscated from the junior police officer six sachets of shabu.

Villacorte directed all the unit commanders to weed out drug-dealing police officers.

“I ordered the identification and arrest of police officers involved in the illegal drug trade in the community,” Villacorte said.

“We are now focusing on internal cleansing of drug peddlers and coddlers within the PNP (Philippine National Police). Anyone caught involved in illegal drugs in any other ways will face criminal and administrative case,” he added.

The PNP ensures its commitment in the war against illegal drugs in the country. With its intensified implementation of revitalized campaign against illegal drugs, a stronger and more synchronized anti-illegal drug operation will be continuously conducted by the police in full support of the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Villacorte reminds everyone that there are no exceptions under the law, that anyone who is behind the trade and use of illegal drugs will be held liable.

The PNP encourages the public to immediately report police officers involved in illegal drugs through social media or to inform the nearest police office. (PNA)
RMA/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR