PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald de la Rosa said that no local official was behind the relief of narco-policemen in the region, including former Negros Occidental provincial director William Señoron.
De la Rosa, in an interview with VoxPop Bacolod Friday night, June 23, said that local chief executives cannot influence his decision as the move was based on “factual basis and his own investigation.”
He said, however, that their removal from their posts doesn’t mean they are guilty of being illegal drug protectors.
Earlier this year, Negros Island Region (NIR) top drug suspect Ricky Serenio, the alleged bagman of Berya drug group, tagged several local personalities, high-ranking policemen, and other law enforcers in the illegal drug trade.
This resulted to the relief of more than 40 policemen from Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, including Señoron.
Most of the sacked policemen were transferred to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Cordillera Administrative Region.
De la Rosa said he removed Señoron from his post because a witness implicated him.
“But it doesn’t mean I consider him guilty right away. I relieved him to clear his name,” he added.
De la Rosa said that no one has supported the allegations of Serenio yet.
“So far, we haven’t found evidence that he (Señoron) is receiving drug money. There is no another evidence to support the allegation of the witness. Until now, we couldn’t prove that he was on the take during his tenure as provincial director (of Negros Occidental),” he added.
“Mahirap if wala tayong action taken. May nagsabi na witness, tapos wala tayong ginawa, parang hindi tayo seryoso sa atin kampanya sa drugs. So to be fair, gawin natin lahat para sa kabutihan (It’s hard if there is no action taken. A witness implicated him, but we didn’t do anything. It’s like that we’re not serious in our campaign against drugs. So to be fair, we have to do for the good of everybody),” he added.
Asked if he believes Señoron was a drug protector, De la Rosa said, “Personally, wala akong alam. Kilala ko siya na opisyal na masipag at magaling mag trabaho. ‘Yun pagkaka-alam ko sa kanya. Wala akong alam sa kanya tungkol sa drugs, until lumabas si Serenio. But we have to give credence sa kanyang sinasabi dahil very risky on his part na magsabi siya na walang basehan (Personally, I have no idea. I know him as hardworking and good official. That’s how I know him. I don’t know anything about drugs until Serenio came out. But we have to give credence to what he said because it’s also very risky on his part if there is no basis).”
He also said that he doesn’t want the ongoing probe to be influenced because Señoron is still in his post, which is why he was relieved.
“Let the investigation proceed with its natural course,” he added.
Earlier, retired Police Regional Office-NIR director Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban denied allegations that a town mayor pressured him to order the relief of Señoron and other police officers.
Señoron had vehemently denied the allegations that he is a drug protector.
Marañon appeal
Moreover, De la Rosa confirmed that Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. came to his office following the relief of Señoron.
“Pumunta si Gov sa office ko. Nag-appeal siya sa akin. (Sabi niya) na matino na official, masipag at maasahan (si Señoron), baka pwede i-retain lang muna (Gov came to my office. He appealed. He said Señoron is sensible, hardworker and dependable, and if maybe he can be retained as provincial director),” the PNP chief recalled.
De la Rosa said he told the governor that he has the same impression of Señoron, however, the police have to do their part because Señoron was implicated in the illegal drug trade.
“We have to validate this thoroughly. And the way to validate is to conduct a proper investigation,” he added.