Asianews

Cop chief in P9.6 billion drug haul transferred

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered a six-month preventive suspension of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and seven other city government officials in connection with the administrative cases they are facing for the alleged illegal reassignment and withholding of salaries of four city hall employees.

In a 10-page order approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Tuesday, the anti-graft agency said it found sufficient grounds for the suspension of Rama and the other officials “considering that there is strong evidence showing their guilt.”

Also suspended were city administrator Collin Rosell, city assessor officer-in-charge Maria Theresa Rosell, assistant department he ad for administration Francis May Jacaban, assistant department head for operations Angelique Cabugao, administrative division head Jay-Ar Pescante, division head for assessment of records management Lester Joey Beniga and computer division head Nelyn Sanrojo.

The ombudsman said the preventive suspension is in order as the continued stay in office of the local officials may prejudice ongoing inv estigation since they have control and custody of relevant documents and other potential evidence.

The office of Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos was asked to submit proof of implementation of the suspension order.

Rama and the seven other city government officials are facing charges of grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a public officer, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave abuse of authority or oppression and violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Tax mappers Filomena Atuel and Maria Diongzon as well as local assessment operations officers Sybil Ann Ybañez and Chito dela Cerna filed the complaints last month, saying Rama issued orders reassigning them to other departments without any reason.

The ombudsman said the complainants have not received their salaries since July 2023 and were not reinstated to their posts despite a decision of the Civil Service Commission that granted their appeal.

In an interview with reporters, Rama said he was not aware of the suspension order.

He said he has not received a copy of any complaint, adding that his lawyers ”will take care of it.”

MANILA, Philippines —  A lotto player in Bataan won the jackpot in the Super Lotto 6/49 drawn on Tuesday night.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said the bettor guessed the winning numbers 40-18-07-06-24-27, which had a total jackpot of  P51,964,353.60.

The tic ket was bought from a lotto outlet in Balanga.

Fifteen other lotto players won P50,000 each for hitting five of the winning numbers.

The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclus ion or TRAIN Law imposes a 20 percent tax on lotto winnings above P10,000.                                            

MANILA, Philippines —  The two police officers tagged in the killing of a police official in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte early this month have tested positive for gunpowder, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

M/Sgts. Aladdin Ramalan and Shariff Balading had traces of gunpowder on their hands, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said, citing paraffin test results.

Capt. Roland Moralde, an administrative officer of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police’s Regional Mobile Force Battalion, was shot dead when he tried to disarm Mohaliden Untal, whom he caught brandishing a firearm at a public market on May 2.

Aside from Ramalan and Balading, three civilians were implicated in the shooting.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and Marbil visited the wake of Moralde at the PNP Mortuary at Camp Crame yesterday.

Abalos posthumously promoted Moralde to the rank of major as he condoled with the slain police official’s family.

The PNP had earlier presented Moralde’s Medalya ng Kadakilaan or PNP Heroism Medal to his widow.

Abalos said the police officers involved in Moralde’s killing would face the full force of the law.                                     

MANILA, Philippines —  The police official behind the confiscation of 1.4 tons of shabu valued at P9.68 billion in Alitagtag, Batangas last month has been transferred to another post.

Maj. Luis de Luna Jr., former Alitagtag police chief,  was reassigned to protect him from drug syndicates involved in smuggling large quantities of shabu into the country, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.

“We have to protect him and bring him doon sa mas magandang position,” Marbil  said in an interview yesterday.

He refused to comment when asked where De Luna was transferred.

“It’s a big syndicate and we have to protect our people on the ground,” Marbil said.

He said an investigation to identify the people behind the shabu haul, said to be the second biggest under the Marcos administration, is ongoing.

Meanwhile, PNP Drug Enforcement Group director Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta said anti-narcotics operations in Tinglayan, Kalinga from April 29 to May 7 have resulted in the confiscation and destruction of marijuana plants and dried marijuana leaves worth P861.9 million.

The nine-day raids on marijuana plantations were conducted on Mt. Chumanchill in Barangays Loccong and Buscalan.

“The destruction of these plants not only disrupted the supply chain, but also served as a deterrent to potential cultivators, signaling the risks associated with such illicit endeavors,” Matta said in a statement.

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