6 lawmen in shabu lab case suspended

By Jerry Padilla

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – Six of 53 Region 1 (Ilocos) police personnel who were relieved as part of the probe on the shabu laboratory busted in Naguilian, La Union last July, were suspended for three months each while two others have returned to regular duty.

Chief Supt. Ramon Gatan, head of Task Force Bimmotobot, told the media that Supt. Dionicio Borromeo, former Dagupan City police chief, was meted with a 90-day preventive suspension along with Chief Insp. Gil Gempes, SPO4 Ambrosio Sayson, PO3 Joey Abang, PO2 Walter Banan, and PO1 Rodolfo Damian.

Borromeo, who was charged along with 13 others, was tagged by Dante Palaganas, the shabu lab’s caretaker, as one of their alleged protectors. Borromeo denied the allegation in his affidavit.

Gatan said Chief Inspector Erwin Dayag, former police chief of Naguilian town, and SPO1 Pablo Florendo were back on regular duty because they were both complainants in the shabu lab case.

Gatan, deputy regional police director for administration, said the suspension will take effect until January.

Sources in Camp Crame said Gempes and Sayson were suspended due to administrative lapses, and the rest, due to grave misconduct or for their alleged involvement in the shabu lab’s operations.

Gatan said the task force sought the return of the rest of the other relieved police personnel temporarily detailed at Camp Crame if they were cleared.

The three-man prosecution panel created by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales is now evaluating the affidavits of the complainants and accused.

Authorities raided the shabu lab in Barangay Bimmotobot last July 9 and seized chemicals that could produce P27 million worth of shabu.