Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa on Friday ordered his men to verify a list of 357 policemen, who are on President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug watchlist if they are indeed involved in illegal drugs.
“I hope the public would not mind for me not to supply more details… I would like to protect their identity because as of yet, they are presumed innocent,” Gamboa told CNN Philippines.
Gamboa says this is part of the internal cleansing program that he promised to the President when he took the reins of the police force last month.
The highest-ranking officer on the list, he said, is a Brigadier General or a one-star rank official. The PNP chief spoke to most of these policemen who reported to Camp Crame on Friday.
Gamboa said the adjudication and validation process will begin on Monday, and the PNP hopes to finish the entire process in a month.
“Two levels. The first level will be regional, national support unit, or directorial staff adjudication boards where they will be heard one week. Then for the next three weeks, they will be passed on to the National Adjudication Board which will be headed by the Deputy Chief PNP for Administration,” the PNP chief said.
Those who will be proven to have no connection with illegal drugs will be removed from the President’s watchlist, Gamboa said.
Meanwhile, case build-up that may lead to administrative and criminal charges will be filed against those with proven involvement in illegal drug transactions.
The National Adjudication Board will present the final list to Gamboa, which will, later on, be endorsed to the President for action.