SAN NICOLAS, Ilocos Norte – The police chief and four of his men of the Municipal Police Station here were placed under preventive suspension pending the result of the investigation on the alleged payola claim made by an arrested woman for illegal drugs.
S/Inps. Rodelio Santos, SPO2 Devis Cabias, PO3 Ryan Viernes, PO2 Erwin Cadaoas and PO2 Jeniefer Mamuad were ordered by Provincial Director S/S Albert Ocon to temporarily leave from their posts pending further investigation.
They were accused of allegedly receiving “protection money” from drug personalities in the municipality by accuser Evangeline Gonzales, who was earlier arrested by CIDG agents for illegal drugs.
S/Inps. Santos completely denied the accusation saying that accuser Gonzales had fabricated the charges as a retaliation against his men who had earlier conducted a search warrant against her.
Ocon said that the five police officers will have to wait for the final result of the investigation before any recommendations will be made. They will have to report at the INPPO for the meantime, he said.
He clarified that their relief from their post is “not a punishment”.
San Nicolas Mayor Melanie Grace Valdez said that she strongly believes that the police officers especially S/Inspector Santos are innocent of the charges citing their numerous achievements in fighting criminality in their town particularly illegal drugs.
