PNP, IAS agree not to suspend Antipolo raid leader, but answer grave misconduct allegation

October 28, 2019

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) agreed that the team leader of a controversial Antipolo drug raid will no longer be suspended but will face graver offense.

In a press briefing, PNP Officer-in-Charge Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa said during his meeting with IAS last Friday, they have agreed to not punish Police Lt. Joven De Guzman with suspension until he answers grave misconduct allegations.

“So we agreed that we will remand (to the IAS) but actually the resolution would say we will not punish De Guzman… the 59 days suspension we will not anymore pursue,” Gamboa said.

“They have already accepted (that) because my point is the due process and I said just (give) De Guzman the time to answer the grave misconduct allegation,” he added.

Gamboa said they will come up with the result after a week.

“Let’s just give chance to De Guzman to explain and in a week's time we resolve it and we will tell you what the punishment would be,” he said.

Only De Guzman out of the seven cops involved in the Antipolo raid was not dismissed, prompting Gamboa to ask IAS to review his case again as he wants the cop to face graver offense which will result to his dismissal from service.

De Guzman was also among the 13 ''ninja cops'' involved in a alleged sting operation in 2013 Pampanga, when former Police General Oscar Albayalde was provincial director.

De Guzman and three other Pampanga cops were also part of the Antipolo raid, where they were found administratively liable for robbery and attempted murder. Ella Dionisio/DMS