MANILA: A group of 11 anti-narcotics officers were relieved from their normal duties for alleged involvement in the kidnapping and disappearance of four drug suspects last year
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has placed the anti-drug operatives under the restrictive custody of the NCRPO Regional Headquarters Support Unit, the Philstar.com portal reported.
NCRPO director Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo issued the order on the suspects and that they were to be reassigned due to the gravity of the offense filed against them by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
He said the NBI Task Force Against Illegal Drugs are probing the disappearance of four drug suspects in Cavite on April 13 last year. They were siblings Gio and Mico Mateos, Garry Matreo Jr. and Ronaldo Anonuevo.
On Wednesday, the NBI filed various charges against the 11 NCRPO officers.
"The NCRPO condemns and will never tolerate violations of human rights, law and order," Estomo said.
"Rest assured that we will cooperate and will not condone any form of lawlessness committed by our men regardless of rank should it be established following due investigation by competent authorities."
The NBI has clarified that the suspects were charged in connection with the kidnapping of drug suspects and not of sabungeros or cockfight players.
"The investigation on the disappearances is related to drug offenses," lawyer Eduardo Ramos, the lead investigator in the case, had said recently.