MANILA - Several policemen have cried foul after their sudden deployment to Basilan, a "punishment" supposedly reserved for rogue cops allegedly involved in drug operations.

Some cops have claimed names on the Basilan-bound list have been switched, with supposed rogue cops escaping the harsh assignment.

Those leaving for Basilan Tuesday were not part of the initial list of personnel presented to President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang, some cops claim.

Police Officer 1 Claimar Dacumos of the National Capital Police Region Office (NCRPO) said he was surprised when he found out he was in the 'Basilan list.'

Dacumos, who has been in service for 5 years, said he had no bad record.

“Wala po akong isang bahid ng reklamo, administrative o criminal case na naka-file sa akin. Kahit infotext, wala po. Tsaka po itinataya ko po, kung meron po akong nakabinbin na reklamo sa akin, magpapakulong na lang po ako bilang patunay na malinis ang aking kunsensiya," he said.

Dacumos said authorities did not seem to validate the list.

The sentiment was echoed by Senior Police Officer 1 Mochtar Pangandaman, whose name was in the list submitted by the Southern Police District.

Pangandaman was a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and currently assigned at the SPD Firing Range.

“Nagtatanong po ako kung paano ako napa-involve dito sa ise-send off papuntang Basilan. Ipinaglalaban ko po dito ay hindi karapatan ko lamang kundi karapatan ng bawat pulis na nagiging biktima ng ganitong proseso na hindi nabibigyan ng due process," Pangandaman said.

He lamented that although he has served for three decades now and has been active in anti-drug operations in his area, he is now being named a rogue cop.

"More than 30 years po kami sa Bgy Maharlika, na pinamumunuan po ng aking father na si Sultan Pangandaman. Ang kapatid ko po ay city councilor ng Taguig and ate ko po ay Bgy Kapitan. Thirty years na po kaming lumalaban sa anti illegal drugs hanggang sa namatayan po kami ng kapatid. Lahat po ng anti-illegal drugs, nawasak po namin. Ngayon po isinasangkot po kami dito, wala po kaming kaalam-alam dito,” Pangandaman said.

Both policemen were wondering why some policemen presented to Duterte at Malacanang were not included in the list of Basilan-bound cops.

Pangandaman said, “Talagang mga scalawags na pulis, na supposed to be nandito, wala sila. So unfair naman po yon, allegedly nasa watchlist, sana naman po, mabigay po nila kung ano talaga ang kaso namin.”

Police Chief Inspector Erwin Eco Jr., the policeman who exposed the anomalous use of PNP funds during the Pope’s visit to the country was also part of the list.

“Siyempre nakita naman namin ang mga iniharap doon sa Malacanang, yung iba hindi namin kasama rito. Ang nangyari, kami ang naging reliever nila. Sabotahe to, ang ilagay ang matitino, ang mawala yung mga scalawag sa listahan,” he said.

Some policemen also included in the list who refused to be identified said they think their names were switched because they used their connections.

One said, “Grabe ma’am, ang daming nawala rito, na gumapang. Mga pangalan nila, nung una nandyan tapos nung gumapang na, may mga among nilapaitan, may mga boss, bigla na lang nawala ang pangalan nila. Yung tunay na scalawag nawala, kami itong isinakripisyo, para lang may maipakita na may aksiyon sila sa Koreano, kami ang regalo sa Koreano ma’am. Kami pinalit.”

They all said they had no problem being assigned anywhere, but being branded a "scalawag (rogue cop)" was bothersome.

“Kami naman ay hindi namin inaatrasan ang pag-reassign sa Basilan, dahil, kami nga eh mga law enforcer at public servant. Ang hindi lang namin kayang tanggapin sa sarili namin at sa pamilya namin, na pupunta kami sa isang lugar na ang tingin sa amin ay mga scalawag.”

According to them, the druglords and drug pushers whom they have arrested and prosecuted are rejoicing over them being tagged as scalawags.

The policemen are calling on President Duterte and PNP Chief, Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa to hear their side before they are deployed to Basilan Tuesday. More than 200 police personnel will be flying to the province via a C-130.

NOBODY QUESTIONED THE LIST

Meanwhile, NCRPO Director Oscar Albayalde said nobody questioned the list.

“Wala pong nangyaring ganun. Actually sa 318 na sinubmit namin dati po yan, 228 lang. Ngayon ay 318 ang sinubmit natin sa national headquarters, hinimay-himay po namin yan," he said.

“Wala pong lumapit sa amin ni isa para matanggal ang pangalan niya doon sa listahan. Eh of course ang instruction ng HQ, sa police accounting and holding unit namin doon sa OHAU na sinasabi sa NHQ. But that doesn’t mean na wala silang kaso, hindi sila malilipat sa ibang lugar,” Albayalde added.

Albayalde said the cops' transfer was part of PNP's internal cleansing.

“Yun pong paglipat sa kanila sa Basilan, totoo po yung iba na wala po silang kaso, ngunit pong derogatory reports yung marami. Of course yung sinasabi nating narco-list ng pangulo na inilabas niya. Yun pong iba dyan nandyan ang pangalan nila. Yan pong ginagawa ng National HQ at cleansing na ginagawa natin yun paglipat ng isang tao sa assignment, isa pong preemptive measure ng PNP as part of our cleansing operations. Yung tanggalin sila sa steer of influence nila," he said.

"Totoo pong mabibigyan pa ng due process yan. Di naman po porke malipat ka sa isang lugar eh of course yung pwede mong kaharapin na administrative and criminal charges eh absuwelto ka na. Yan po ay mabibigyan sila ng due process after na mareassign diyan sa pupuntahan nila particularly sa Basilan,” he added.

Albayalde emphasized that the deployment of personnel remains the prerogative of the PNP chief and the president.

“Nasa batas po yan, under Section 26 ng [Republic Act] 6975 na pwede pong ideploy ng ating Chief PNP ang kanyang subordinates from one assignment to another,” he said.

"Una po nasa Provincial Director na yon kung saan i-a-assign, hindi na natin pwedeng kuwestiyunin ang wisdom ng ating Pangulo kung saan sinabi niya na sa Basilan i-assign ang lahat ng ito.”

Albayalde also warned cops who will refuse deployment.

“May accounting po tayo ngayong umaga, accounting mamayang gabi, makikita natin kung sino magrereport o hindi. Pwede po silang mag-AWOL, mawawala benepisyo, matatanggal sa serbisyo.”