The dismissal of two policemen from the service has been recommended by the Police Regional Office 6 Internal Affairs Service for allegedly bungling drug cases they filed in court.

At the same time, criminal and administrative charges against seven other law enforcers are scheduled for summary hearing by the IAS deliberation board, and for resolution by provincial and city prosecutor's offices in the Western Visayas.

Eight more policemen in the region among them a junior police commissioned officer, are also being investigated by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for possible criminal and administrative complaints to be filed against them in court or the IAS, PDEA regional chief Rolen Balquin, said in his report.

Among the 17 policemen are Senior Inspector Bonifer Gotas formerly assigned at the Bacolod City Police Office and presently the Sipalay police chief, and Police Officer 1 Rommel Jacildo.

On the other hand, the charges filed against PO2 Richard Delasa for alleged bungling of drug cases was dismissed by the Bacolod City Prosecutor's Office for lack of merit, PDEA records show.

Recommended for dismissal from the police service by IAS are PO1 Jovito Quiatchon and PO2 Alberto Precia. The recommendation stemmed from their failure to appear as prosecution witnesses in the drug-related cases they had filed in court against Melanie Meletante, Ronnie Carl Davies and Michael Celiz Wilson, that had led to the dismissal of the complaints.

Other policemen facing administrative or criminal complaints are Chief Inspector Carlito Guion, PO2 Alfonso Precia, PO3 Stephen Siblag, PO3 Edmundo Castillo and PO2 Arnold Alavanzas, all assigned in Iloilo and Antique.

"This will serve as a stern warning to all policemen that they should religiously attend court hearings," Balquin said.

Aside from dismissal, the policemen who may be convicted for bungling of drug cases, face 12 to 20 years of imprisonment under RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Drug Act of 2002, he added.

The PDEA regional office is also investigating reports of policemen in Bacolod City allegedly negotiating with arrested drug personalities for monetary considerations, in exchange for their freedom.

PDEA records show that Bacolod City remains on top of its list of those with the most number of pending drug cases which is 1258, followed by Iloilo City - 829, Negros Occidental -306, Capiz - 214, Iloilo - 147, Antique - 29 and Guimaras -17.

Not only policemen have been charged for alleged bungling of drug cases, but also three government prosecutor's in Negros Occidental, the PDEA said.

Also being investigated Inspector Rey Fuentes, SPO1 Marlon Ganzon, SPO1 Maximo Catedrilla, PO2 Aurelio Porras, PO2 Joffer Cabural, PO1 Wilfredo Hofileña, PO1 Henry Evoltorio and PO1 Emmanuel Decripito, for possible criminal and administrative charges in connection with the dismissal of drug-related charges they had filed in court.*GPB

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