PRO 7 Chief Relieves 7 Police Officers President Duterte Named as Drug Protectors

Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño has ordered the relief of seven police officers mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte as alleged drug protectors on Sunday.

“They will have their day in court and answer all allegations of their involvement in illegal drugs, including former (Cebu City) mayor Michael Rama,” he said.

Supt. Romeo Santander is the only commissioned officer under PRO 7 on the list.

The rest are non-commissioned officers, namely, PO2 Michael Cortez and SPO1 Onel Nabua, both of Barili Police Station; PO3 Ryan Martus Kiamco, Cebu Provincial Police Office; SPO1 Jen dela Victoria, Cebu City Police Station 5; PO2 Jomar Ibañez, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office; and SPO3 Christie Cielo Tingad.

Santander was appointed last week as Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) deputy director for operations, replacing Supt. George Ylanan, who was transferred to PRO 10 (Northern Mindanao).

Santander was the chief of Cebu City Intelligence Branch (CIB) before he transferred to the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) and back to the CCPO.

In 2011, then a police chief inspector, Santander received an award as The Nation’s Best Junior Police Commissioned Officer of the Year, from former President Benigno Aquino III.

When he had become a superintendent, Santander and two of his CIB personnel were recognized in 2015 by Camp Crame for their accomplishments against the illegal drug trade.

Taliño said he plans to transfer Santander to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit, while the other officers will be turned over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for investigation. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS