The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said he will not “confirm nor deny” the inclusion of Police Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido in President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug list.

This is despite news reports some generals in the national headquarters confirmed his inclusion.

“I would like to make a statement that I will not confirm nor deny that Espenido is on the list and of all other names they would like to link with the drug list that we are now in possession of,” said Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said in an interview over ANC Headstart.

Gamboa reiterated that he made a promise to the relieved cops they will not be named.

“First, I promise to the 357 that I will not divulge their names in the media and second, I would like to maintain confidentiality on this aspect. You know, when you open your mouth as chief PNP, it becomes a policy,” he said.

According to Gamboa, the adjudication process might be affected if he named and commented on the cops included in the list.

“I want them to enjoy the impartiality that they should be accorded of,” Gamboa said.

 “Hopefully everybody is going to respect the confidentiality issue that I have brought out during the time I talked to them,” he added.

In an interview with reporters before the TV interview,  Gamboa expressed his disappointment after asking the media several times to not disclose the names of the 357 relieved cops.

“I appealed to not look into the personalities and you know the intention and there here comes the issue of Rappler. I feel insulted with that,” he said.

Espenido was relieved from his post as deputy chief for operations and chief of the drug enforcement unit of Bacolod City Police Office last week in time with the announcement of the 357 cops under investigation for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Gamboa said they presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“I will not discuss anything about it, not even with the President or through the media because there are prejudices that will develop to the people and possibly the President that’s why I’m asking let us evaluate then we submit it to the President,” he said.

Gamboa said he doesn’t want to pre-empt the process when he was asked if some of the 357 cops were adjudicated.

“I don’t want to pre-empt anything about the process but all of these things, the validation committee was aware especially the national adjudication board. They are aware of all of these factors, all of these things,” he said.

Gamboa said what he can shared to the public for now is that 15 cops already applied for optional retirement and some were compulsory retirement and 43 will be marked on absent without leave (AWOL).

He said he gave the national adjudication board one month to finish their evaluation.

“It’s a very ambitious deadline because imagine you do all of these things, evaluation in just a period of one month but they accepted it. But I’m not absolute. If they need more time, maybe an extension of five or 10 days but no more than 45 days or two months,” he said.  Ella Dionisio/DMS