2 PNP cols cry foul over reports linking them to trillion shabu lab

By Myds Supnad

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- Two senior superintendents who were relieved last week said reports in a national daily that their relief had something to do with the ongoing investigation of the multi-trillion shabu laboratory were wrong.

Superintendents Samuel Diciano and Franklyn Bucayu, former deputy regional director for operations and chief of directorial staff in Region 1, said their relief had nothing to do with the discovery of the shabu laboratory as printed in the newspaper saying it was part of the regular reshuffle being undertaken by the Philippine National Police hierarchy.

"Di totoo yang report. Parehong posisyon din ang ibinigay sa amin ng PNP sa aming bagong pinuntahan at hindi dahil sa shabu lab ang dahilan," said Diciano and Bucayu, recipients of various commendations and merits the previous years.

PNP chief Avelino Razon said last week in radio Bombo relief of various police officers was normal process in reshuffling policemen throughout the country and not in La Union alone due to the retirement of a number of senior top police officers.

Earlier, PNP authorities sacked a total of 52 policemen, 17 of whom are commissioned police officers, from their posts and are now subject of investigation.

Sr. Supt. Marvin Bolabola, regional chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 1, said all relieved 52 policemen including a PNP colonel, will be subjected to investigation to avoid whitewash and to show the public that the PNP hierarchy means business in their job to look into the protectors behind it and ferret out the truth into the discovery of the biggest shabu ever discovered in the country.

Tapped by Razon to help investigate the shabu lab, Bolabola said however the policemen will be given due process, saying their relief does not mean they are already guilty but this is to avoid whitewash on investigation of the laboratory. “Mababalik din sila kung napatunayan na wala silang kinalaman sa naturang shabu laboratory, pero mananagot ang mga may kinalaman,” said Bolabola.

Among those charged and investigated were Senior Supt. Dionisio Borromeo, chief of police of Dagupan City who became regional chief of the PNP mobile group in the region; two chiefs of municipal police in La Union and others mostly detailed with the Regional mobile group based in Camp Gen. Oscar Florendo, headquarters of the PNP in Region 1.

Some of the mistah in Philippine Military Academy of Col. Borromeo could not believe he was involved in the shabu laboratory. Six Chinese men were also charged.

The police’s action (in relieving the 52 policemen) came in the wake of revelation of Dante Palaganas, a caretaker of the said shabu lab who tagged Borromeo as one of the police protectors of the laboratory. Borromeo, however, denied the charges.

The shabu lab was earlier used as front for piggery until policemen from the province headed by Sr. Supt. Noli Talino discovered it in a surprised raid that shocked the entire police and community.

The Congressional Oversight Committee in Congress on Dangerous Drugs had inspected the alleged shabu laboratory the other day in line with House investigation being sought by Rep. Tomas Dumpit, Jr. whose district the laboratory was discovered.

No less than General Razon had ordered the creation of “Task Force Bimmutubot” to dig deeper into the shabu laboratory believing the case against those implicated are so strong to merit indictment in court.