PNP TO CHARGE COPS WHO BUNGLE DRUG CASES--EBDANE

POLICE officers who fail to appear as prosecution witnesses in court face
stiff administrative sanctions, the National Police chief, Director General
Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., warned on Tuesday.

Ebdane had received reports that at least 24 criminal cases for the
violation of the Comprehensive Drug Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9165) had
been dismissed in various courts in Metro Manila.

Cases filed in the Pasig, Manila and Pasay City regional trial courts were
dismissed because some arresting officers failed to appear in court.

Ebdane noted that conflicting testimonies and recantation of police
witnesses also resulted in the dismissal of some drug cases.

His disclosure supports the criticism of Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito
Zuno that members of the police force have been "deliberately bungling"
drug cases.

The most prominent among these drug cases involved three Chinese
suspects--Li Chung Thai, Li Shiyu Chin and Tiu Siu.

Their cases, which were being tried by Branch 119 of the Pasay City
Regional Trial Court, were dropped after the arresting officers, SPO1
Jessie Barroga and SPO1 Florentino Tassava, recanted their testimonies in
the affidavits of arrest they previously submitted.

The PNP Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management is also
investigating 254 policemen.

These policemen are under investigation to determine their administrative
or criminal liabilities for failing to attend the court proceedings.