THE Department of Justice is conducting its own investigation of the five police generals tagged earlier on by President Rodrigo Duterte as protectors of illegal drug trade in the country.
In a text message to reporters, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the “DoJ is working on our own to get evidence against the ‘narco-generals.’”
The so-called `narco generals” include retired PNP Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo, retired Chief Supt. and now Daanbantayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot, Police Director Joel Pagdilao, and Chief Supts. Edgardo Tinio and Bernardo Diaz.
Earlier, Aguirre said the DoJ would just wait if charges would be filed against the retired and active police generals, saying the National Police Commission is doing its investigation.
According to him, once a case has been filed, then that’s the time the DoJ will get involved by conducting preliminary hearings.
“The process is for Napolcom or any other investigative body to file a case before DoJ and, once it is filed, that’s the time we will initiate a preliminary investigation,” he said.
Nonetheless, Aguirre did issue an immigration look-out bulletin order against the five based on the request of Interior Secretary Mike Sueno.
On Tuesday, the Napolcom said it would file administrative charges against Pagdilao and Tinio.
The Napolcom said Pagdilao and Tinio will be charged with serious neglect of duty, serious irregularities in the performance of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
However, the Napolcom said it has yet to find concrete evidence linking the two police generals as protectors of illegal drugs syndicates in the country.