MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Philippine National Police has sacked cops named in President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called drug matrix, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana announced on Thursday, October 11.

According to the assignment orders that Durana shared to reporters, the following have been placed in the Camp Crame police holding unit:

• Senior Superintendent Leonardo Ramos Suan
• Superintendent Lorenzo Cusay Bacia
• Senior Inspector Lito Torres Pirote
• Inspector Conrado Hernandez Caragdag
• Senior Police Officer IV Alejandro Gerardo Liwanag

What holding unit? The police holding unit is the PNP subdivision where sacked cops are placed for monitoring. They are required to report to office without any particular task expected of them. 

If they fail to report, they would be considered AWOL which could be grounds for their dismissal.

Why are they named? According to the matrix of Duterte, the cops were allegedly engaged in recycling illegal drugs.  They supposedly learned drug recycling from former police colonel and recently sacked Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency deputy chief Ismael Fajardo.

They are expected to be placed in restrictive custody, which means that they would be detained inside the police camp.

CIDG probe ordered: In a press briefing in his Camp Crame office on Thursday, Durana announced that PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde directed the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to probe the reassigned cops.

The CIDG’s task, Durana’s said, is to determine both administrative and criminal liability. This means the PNP would still have to prepare complaints against the cops despite the public accusation of the President against them. (READ: Policing the PNP: Scalawags spoil Duterte vow to end crime)

“It’s because, apparently, there seems to be criminal liability, the nature of the accusation has criminal liability, so it’s best to have the CIDG,” Durana said. – Rappler.com