14 cops with alleged drug links accept PNP offer for early retirement

February 11, 2020

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa on Tuesday said 14 officers out of the 357 cops relieved for alleged drug links want to render early retirement.

In a radio interview, Gamboa said he offered optional retirement to the  officers under investigation but  he made it clear that retiring from police service doesn’t mean they will not be held liable if they are really involved in the activity.

“I told them if you don't want to embarrass yourself, if you are guilty and you think with the composition of those who will evaluate you cannot escape or if you really want peace of mind then we offer you optional retirement. So this was an offer given to the policemen, the 357 and gladly as of yesterday there are 14 who wanted to avail of this optional retirement,” he said.

“I made it clear to them that it doesn’t mean that when they optionally retired they will not be arrested… So if you are not cleared we will pursue a case again you… we will apply the full force of the law to you,” he added.

Gamboa said relieved cops know if they are drug protectors or users.

“As a matter of fact, during that time, I conducted drug test but there were 46 who were absent and my instructions is to mark them AWOL (absent without leave),” he said.

The PNP chief said those who will opt to retire early may be included in the national drug watchlist of President Rodrigo Duterte if found involved in illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, those who will still be under PNP’s investigation and validation will undergo their process for a month before submitting the final recommendation to Duterte for his decision.

“I think we know better because they are our people but of course after it reach the Office of the President probably through the executive secretary, I don’t have a control anymore whether the president says our recommendation is okay or not. I told the 357 (cops) this is an attempt to finally put a closure on all this information,” Gamboa said.

Gamboa reiterated his statement last Monday on not disclosing the names of the cops.

“I asked the media yesterday and again today that I will not reveal their names because the presumption will be guilty and if we release names, we can’t prevent any speculations so I hope the people would respect that,” he said.

“We will clean our ranks first,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS