THE Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) yesterday cleared 10 Laguna policemen of any wrongdoing in the death of a teenager in an anti-illegal drug operation in Biñan City, Laguna last June 16.

Cleared of irregularity were Laguna Police Intelligence Unit chief Capt. Fernando Credo, Senior Master Sgt. Mark Lester Yonzon, Staff Sergeants Ricky Sacurom, Elmer Belaro and Rodrigo Velarde Jr; Corporals Felix Nico Agudong, Leonardo Roldan, Gilbert Florentino and Christopher San Jose; and Patrolman Rowie Cadangan.

The PNP-IAS earlier initiated a precharge investigation of the 10 Laguna policemen for grave irregularity in the performance of duty, an administrative offense.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar expressed confidence on the findings of the PNP-IAS probe.

“Isang operasyon sa Laguna na nagresulta sa pagkamatay ng isang menor de edad ang tinutukan ko dahil sa mga kontrobersyal na pahayag na isa itong kaso ng human rights abuse at inaakusahan pang extra-judicial killing,” Eleazar said.

“Sa paglabas ng imbestigasyon na ito ng IAS, muling napatunayan na walang katotohanan ang mga paratang na may drug-related operations ang PNP na may bahid ng pang-aabuso gaya ng gustong palabasin ng iba,” the PNP chief added.

Last June 16, operatives of the Laguna Police Intelligence Unit conducted an anti-illegal drug operation against one of the province’s most wanted men and notorious drug suspect Antonio Dalit in Biñan City.

Authorities said Dalit and his 16-year-old companion, Jhondy Maglinte Helis, engaged operatives in a gunfight and were killed.

Helis’ family claimed that Dalit and the teenager were summarily-executed by the operatives.

The teenager’s family said Helis was already in handcuffs and pleading for his life when shot.

Following the incident, Eleazar immediately ordered the disarming of the 10 officers and placing them under restrictive custody.

The IAS investigation found no indication that the two suspects were killed in cold blood and no witness surfaced to attest to the alleged execution.

Helis’ family also refused to cooperate with the PNP-IAS investigation.

“Since I became your chief PNP, I made a promise that I would be fair in handling all cases involving our personnel. The IAS investigation of this case is but proof of this commitment,” Eleazar said.

“Mabilis kaming umaksyon sa mga pang-aabuso ng ilan sa aming hanay subalit tinitiyak din namin ang proteksyon ng napakaraming mabuting pulis sa aming hanay na ginagawa lamang ang sinumpaang tungkulin na pagsilbihan at proteksyunan ang ating mga kababayan lalo sa banta ng ilegal na droga,” he added.

A homicide complaint was also filed in the Biñan City Prosecutor’s Office against the 10 accused cops.