Pubdate: Mon, 09 Aug 2004 Source: Manila Times (Philippines) Copyright: 2004, The Manila Times Contact: http://www.manilatimes.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) 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.