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CAMPAIGN VS ILLEGAL DRUGS TO CONTINUE, VOWS BILLONES

CHIEF Supt.  Antonio Billones, Regional Police Office director, assured the public that the campaign against illegal drugs will not be hampered by the suspension of four police officers for six months.

Billones told the Mindanao Times that law enforcement agencies in the region will continue to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs.

"I believe the members of the PNP ( Philippine National Police ) would understand that the fate of the four officers is part of the job.  We didn't expect it to happen.  They will continue to work and do their job and cooperate with each other," he said.

Earlier, the Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Agencies for suspended for top officials of the Davao City Police Office ( DCPO ), including former DCPO director Conrado Laza, for failing to failure to prevent and to stop summary killings.

Billones lamented that the four police officers were suspended even when the DCPO was cited twice as Oustanding City Police Office on the national level under Laza.

"It implied that they ( suspended police officers ) were not only good in the operation but also in the administration, because that was the basis of the national police headquarters.  It was also validated by the Internal Affairs Service and the team from the PNP in Camp Crame composed of star-rank officers.  It showed that the DCPO fulfilled its mandated mission" he said.

Billiones said the PNP is extending legal assistance to the beleaguered police officers.