Former cops sue PNP over drug war framing

Two former police officers, Marco Almario from Zambales and Sonny Reyes from Quezon City, accused the Philippine National Police (PNP) and their superiors of framing them up during former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

Almario alleged that his superior at the Zambales Provincial Police Office planted illegal drugs and a gun on him, leading to his arrest in 2016. He shouldered all legal expenses and faced administrative charges before being dismissed from service.

Reyes recounted how he was falsely accused after assisting a neighbor who pretended to be a cop, resulting in him and his children facing robbery and holdup charges despite the cases being dropped later.

House panel chairperson Santa Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez called on the PNP Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) to investigate similar cases and provide legal assistance for affected officers.

Lawmakers also discussed the need for funding for the PNP-IAS, with Surigao Del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers highlighting financial struggles faced by dismissed police officers due to lack of legal representation.