WDP ANTIDRUG UNIT CHIEF: I WAS SACKED IN THE PAPERS

This police official could not believe that he had been sacked by his
superiors without his knowledge. At least, that was what was reported
in some newspapers.

The Western Police District's Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations
Group chief, Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo Jr., has denied he had been
relieved by Deputy Director General Edgardo Aglipay for the alleged
P600,000 extortion on a Tsinoy couple in Binondo, Manila last month.

Pedrozo said he has not received any order for his relief contrary to
published reports. He said he had verified his status from Camp Crame
and the National Capital Region Police Office and was told that there
was no such order.

He said it is a standard police procedure to inform first his
immediate superior, Chief Supt. Pedro Bulaong, WPD director, of his
relief.

But even the office of the WPD chief also denied receiving any relief
order for Pedrozo coming from Aglipay.

Asked why reports of his alleged relief were published, Pedrozo is
convinced "a well-financed group" is behind the demolition job against
him.

"I was informed that this group will even use the media to demolish me
and my unit," he said.

Pedrozo said he was willing to be investigated together with his
men.

"I just want to make it clear that there is no direct evidence yet
that my men were involved in the abduction of the Chinese Filipino
couple. It was only the media which accuse us of involvement in that
alleged abduction," he said.