Duterte fires Bacolod police chief over alleged drug links

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – President Rodrigo Duterte tagged a politician and 5 police officers here for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Duterte fired Bacolod City’s chief of police, Francis Ebreo, over these alleged drug links, according to a Malacañang press release Sunday, January 13.

Duterte also dismissed 4 other policemen.

Duterte was here Saturday night, January 12, to attend the birthday of Leo Rey Yanson, Vallacar Transit Incorporated president and chief executive officer, in L’ Fisher Hotel. 

During his speech, the President said an incumbent local executive and 5 policemen, including a top-ranking official, are involved in illegal drugs. 

“I’d like to know if the chief of police is here. If you are here kindly stand up because you are fired as of this moment,” Duterte said.

“In your involvement in drugs and making the people of Bacolod miserable, I am relieving and dismissing you from the service as of now, Senior Superintendent Francis Ebreo,” he added.

Duterte added: “Then you have Superintendent Tayuan… And Superintendent Yatar… And there is Victor Paulino, police SI… Macapagal, you are out.”

The President told the policemen to meet him in Malacañang at 2 pm on Monday, January 14.

PNP confirmation

The Philippine National Police confirmed on Sunday it has sacked the following Bacolod cops whom Duterte linked to drugs:

1. P/SSupt. Francisco Ebreo – Chief of Police, Bacolod City
2. P/Supt. Richie Makilan Yatar
3. P. Supt. Nasruddin Daud Tayuan
4. PSI Victor Paulino
5. P/SSupt. Allan Rubi Macapagal

These cops “have been assigned to the Regional Police Holding and Accounting Unit and are now in ‘floating status,'” said the PNP.

Bacolod’s new chief of police is now SSupt. Henry Biñas.

Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, director of Police Regional Office-Western Visayas, confirmed that Duterte mentioned 5 names of policemen who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs. 

Bulalacao, in an interview with Aksyon Radyo Bacolod, said he was outside the venue when Duterte made the pronouncement.

He ordered the relief of the said policemen so it will not affect their investigation. 

He said some of the policemen tagged by Duterte in his narco list were previously reported to be involved in drugs but there was no evidence to implicate them. 

“Personally, I was surprised at one of the names mentioned,” he added.

“We will gather evidence. If proven guilty, we will be filing charges against them,” Bulalacao said. 

Duterte has publicly named personalities – among them judges, politicians, and police officers – in his so-called narco lists. Critics, however, have pointed out errors in the Duterte administration’s narco lists, drawn up based on intelligence reports. – Rappler.com