By Aaron Recuenco
Police General Oscar Albayalde ordered on Wednesday the relief of the head of the Eastern Police District for the involvement of some of his anti-narcotics men in the alleged extortion activity from an arrested drug suspect.
Philippine National Police Chief Director Oscar Albayalde
(Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN)+
Sacked was EPD director Police Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba. His relief came a few hours after the entire EPD Drug Enforcement Unit was relieved in connection with the arrest of Police Corporal Marlo Quibete.
Quibete was accused of demanding P80,000 and forcibly taking a motorcycle and a gold necklace from the live-in partner of a drug suspect whom they arrested in Marikina City on Monday.
Aside from Balba, also ordered relieved was Police Colonel Noel Flores as director of the Pasay City police.
Albayalde said Flores was relieved too for command responsibility after the arrest of Police Corporal Anwar Nasser also for demanding P100,000 from a drug suspect.
Nasser’s three other police companions eluded arrest.
The entire drug enforcement team of Pasay City police, a total of 27 cops, was also relieved.
Albayalde is yet to announce the replacement of the two relieved top police officials of Metro Manila. (Aaron Recuenco)