TACLOBAN CITY – Police Brig. Gen. Vincent Calanoga, Police Regional Office-8 chief, has expressed surprise on the inclusion of Police Col. Michael David, PRO-8 chief regional staff, in the list of 18 third-level officers of the Philippine National Police whose resignations were accepted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for their suspected links to the illegal drugs trade.
Calanoga asked the people to give David the benefit of the doubt as the National Police Commission conducts an investigation.
“Almost everyone was shocked because we work with Col. David and he had done well. He was very professional and this news came as unexpected,” he said.
Calanoga said that based on his conversations with PRO-8 personnel, they could not even think of anything that could link David to the illegal drugs trade.
“We are all affected morally besides Col. David being a fellow PNPA (Philippine National Police Academy) graduate. We sympathize with him but of course, we have to give way to the investigation. We will respect whatever will come out.”
Calanoga disclosed that David remains at PRO-8 headquarters pending orders from Camp Crame.
