MANILA- Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa recently dismissed a total of 150 police officers for various infractions, including drugs and extortion cases.

A PNP-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) list showed that it has recommended the dismissal of police officers tagged in 86 cases with offenses ranging from involvement in illegal drugs, extortion, illegal arrest, rape, and murder.

On top of the list are cases related to irregularities in the performance of duty, neglect of duty and unlawful arrest.

Six cases related to illegal drugs were recorded, including the case of Supt. Lito Cabamongan, the crime laboratory satellite office chief caught in the act of having a pot session in Las Piñas in April.

The PNP-IAS did not even have to consider the result of Cabamongan’s neuro-psychiatric evaluation or the allegation that he stole some confiscated drugs while he was the crime laboratory satellite chief in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

His positive drug test result was enough to nail the officer for his offense, the IAS said.

“Doon namin siya kinasuhan doon sa positive siya dahil mas madali 'yon, 'yung proof doon ay very convincing dahil you cannot contest the result of the scientific examination," Attorney Alfegar Triambulo, PNP-IAS Inspector General.

Most of the offenses were committed by those ranked Police Officer 3, 37 in all, followed by Police Officers 1, at 29.

Third on the list are those ranked Senior Police Officer 1, with 17 on the list, and Superintendents, at 16.

Meanwhile, six senior superintendents have cases related to illegal drugs, misconduct and neglect of duty.

Supt. Ma. Christina Nobleza, the officer linked to a terror suspect, was also dismissed from the service.

The PNP-IAS said it did not consider her alleged involvement with one Abu Sayyaf member.

“Yung relationship niya hindi na kailangan, ke husband niya o hindi. The mere fact na hindi naman siya dapat doon. Siya ang head ng Crime Lab ng Davao, bakit pa siya napunta doon? Nagsinungaling ba siya? Kase kung mag-assumption po tayo, mabutasan po ang ating desisyon dahil wala po tayong proof na tutulong siya doon. Hindi tayo pwedeng mag-imagine, dahil ang batas, may substantial evidence, bilang yung conduct niya ay uncalled for bilang isang opisyal,” Triambulo said.

Also dismissed were the six policemen caught on CCTV planting illegal drugs in an operation, as presented by Senator Panfilo Lacson during the Senate investigation into the kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo.

Triambulo said police have not proven that drugs were actually planted, but so far, they have seen three irregularities committed, enough to serve as their basis for dismissal.

“Hindi malinaw na droga ang pina-plant, that is allegation lang. Pero ang inano namin ay 'yung irregularities ng pag-conduct ng search. Unang-una, mayroong hindi kasama doon, 'yung taga-Caloocan, paano siya nakapunta doon, paano siya nakasali? 'Yung operation na 'yon ay irregular na," he said.

“Bakit kasama ang sibilyan, at nananakit pa? Irregular na naman 'yon. Pangalawa, drugs po ang kanilang pakay, eh bakit kinuha ang mga computer?,” Triambulo also said.

Dela Rosa meanwhile said that out of the 86 cases referred to him, four cases involving officers who were unable to pay debt were returned for further review.

PNP-IAS said it was still investigating the so-called "narco-cops" or officers tagged in illegal drugs.

As part of the PNP internal cleansing, next on the list for dismissal are cops arrested by the PNP Counter Intelligence Task Force (CITF).

“Marami pang pending diyan, yung sa CITF, kidnap, protection, sa droga pa rin, hiniwalay namin yon, mga current 'yon. Internal cleansing, 'yon ang binigyan namin ng priority. Timeline naman diyan 1 month or 1 1/2 month ang pinakamatagal. Baka sunod kong papirmahan ang apprehension ng CITF,” Triambulo added.

While Dela Rosa’s decision is final, the dismissed police personnel are entitled to an appeal.