MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has dismissed another police officer linked to a controversial narcotics raid wherein millions worth of illegal drugs were allegedly recycled.
PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Archie Gamboa announced that he ordered the dismissal of Police Lieutenant Joven de Guzman, who was one of the alleged “ninja cops” in the Pampanga drug raid in 2013.
“I have ordered the dismissal from police service of Police Lieutenant Joven De Guzman of Antipolo City Police Station who led a team of seven PNP personnel that figured in a highly irregular activity in Antipolo City early this year and were recommended for dismissal by the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) as a consequence of their actions,” Gamboa said.
Prior to his involvement in the controversial Pampanga raid, De Guzman was also tagged in another controversial buy-bust operation in Antipolo City last May.
The other six policemen in the Antipolo City raid earlier this year have been relieved from police service.
De Guzman was initially penalized with only 59 days of suspension because the “less grave neglect of duty” found against him was not strong enough to be penalized with dismissal from service but it was upgraded upon the review of IAS.
Gamboa said that De Guzman has at least 10 days to answer the accusations against him. If De Guzman fails to explain his side, the dismissal order would be final and executory.
“Puwede pa siyang mag-file ng motion for reconsideration to my office. It’s part ng due process ‘yun. But, ‘yun kasing nangyari, ni-remand ko, that’s why the investigation was very swift because he did not answer,” Gamboa said.
He added: “Without his participation, the case went ahead and it’s not even required by law that he will answer. So, pag di siya sumagot, wala siyang bagong ebidensya na iprisinta./PN
