IAS did not recommend cop in two raids for suspension, but dismissal

October 22, 2019

The head of the Philippine National Police- Internal Affairs Service (IAS) on Tuesday said they did not recommend for suspension the police officer who is the team leader of the controversial Antipolo anti-drugs operation last May.

In a text message to The Daily Manila Shimbun, Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said there is no need for them to review the case of Police Lieutenant Jove de Guzman as the recommendation they submitted last October 10 was to dismiss all cops involved in the operation which they found to have a lot of irregularities.

“No need for reinvestigation, to charge him again, and hear the case because the illegal and irregular acts which Lt. De Guzman was involved as alleged on the body of complaint,” said Triambulo.

According to IAS chief, their recommendation was dismissal for the seven cops in the drug raid. Four were involved in the 2013 Pampanga drug raid.

“The IAS recommendation is dismissal for all the respondent police involved especially the team leader, PLt. De Guzman,” he said.

Triambulo made the clarification after PNP’s officer-in-charge, Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa said he asked IAS to review the decision on De Guzman since he is only meted a 59-day suspension.

Only six of the seven cops involved were signed for dismissal by Gamboa.

Triambulo said they filed a motion for reconsideration on de Guzman’s case.

“If the OIC PNP will grant (it) then Lt. De Guzman will be dismissed because we found a conspiracy. ‘The act of one is the act of all’ so everyone should be dismissed,” he said.

Triambulo refused to say if someone intervened on the status of De Guzman.

It can be recalled that the 13 so-called “ninja cops” included De Guzman. They were under Police General Oscar Albayalde when he was  provincial director of Pampanga police on 2013.

This prompted Albayalde to step down after senators believed he is protecting the 13 cops by preventing them from being dismissed from service despite alleged irregularities and violations. Ella Dionisio/DMS