MANILA – Several former police officers, dismissed after being implicated by former President Rodrigo Duterte in the illegal drug trade in 2016, are now calling for justice, claiming their dismissal was unjust.
The dismissed officers from the Western Visayas police presented their case at a House Quad Committee hearing on Thursday.
Among those speaking out were former regional intelligence chief PSupt. Ronald Allan Gepana and Gen. Bernardo Diaz.
Gepana recalled that on August 7, 2016, Duterte publicly named sitting and retired local officials, policemen, and law enforcement personnel allegedly involved in the drug trade.
He noted that while the list was supposedly validated by the police and military, it contained several errors, including misspelled names and even a deceased judge.
Following Duterte’s public statements, Gepana said he and others reported to Camp Crame the next day as per the president’s order to appear within 24 hours.
“We were instantly berated and humiliated on national television without the chance to present our side first,” Gepana remarked, adding that in the court of public opinion, they were already deemed guilty.
Gepana also mentioned receiving a memo from the Western Visayas office of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) without specific charges, and they were asked to comment. They were later interviewed by the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS), but no charges were filed.
The officers were placed on floating status and then assigned to the Police Holding and Accounting Office Directorate for Personal Records Management.
Months later, they were formally charged by Napolcom VI with incompetence, gross neglect of duty, and conduct unbecoming of an officer.
The former officers questioned Napolcom VI’s jurisdiction over them, as they had already been reassigned to Camp Crame by then. Napolcom upheld their dismissal in 2021, but they claimed they never received a detailed resolution explaining the decision.
Some of the dismissed officers have cases still pending before the Civil Service Commission, while Diaz’s case is now before the Supreme Court.
Gepana noted a “common denominator” among many of the individuals named by Duterte, as most had previously served with the Iloilo City Police Office, with some holding key positions like city directors, intelligence officers, and station commanders under the operational control of then-Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog, who was also named in Duterte’s list.
Several former police officers dismissed after being named by former President Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 drug trade allegations are calling for justice, lamenting their “unfair” dismissal and the toll it has taken on their lives.
These former officers, including PSupt. Ronald Allan Gepana and Gen. Bernardo Diaz, spoke at a House Quad Committee hearing on Thursday, describing their struggles over the past eight years.
Gepana explained that their dismissal had left them financially, mentally, and emotionally strained. “We were publicly persecuted… We have to bear the stigma of being labeled as drug protectors,” he said.
He further revealed that the Napolcom VI official who signed their dismissal decision had apologized, admitting that there was no solid basis for their dismissal but that they were “only following instructions from higher-ups.”
Gepana expressed his belief that their inclusion on Duterte’s drug list was the sole reason for their termination. He called for accountability for those responsible for this perceived injustice, including those who remained silent despite knowing it was wrong.
The former officers also voiced concern over the nature of the investigation that led to their dismissal.
According to PInsp. Napoleon Arostique Jr., the investigation was based on a memorandum issued by Napolcom’s central office, relying heavily on the president’s public statements to establish probable cause for dismissal.
Napolcom Vice Chairperson Ricardo Bernabe acknowledged a certain bias in the investigation, noting that the officers’ inclusion on the list was likely a contributing factor.
He further admitted that the investigation lacked a private complainant, which raised questions about its fairness. Rep. Romeo Acop, a former police officer, questioned why the investigation was initiated without a private complainant, to which Arostique explained that they could proceed if there was an allegation.
The ongoing investigation is part of the House Quad Committee’s inquiry into Duterte’s controversial anti-narcotics campaign, which resulted in thousands of deaths.
In October, Duterte took “full legal responsibility” for the crackdown, defending his actions and insisting they were necessary for the protection of the country and its people.
“I did it for my country,” he stated, offering no apologies or excuses for his controversial policies.
