By Aaron Recuenco
The Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group (PNP‑HPG) has ordered the relief of 12 personnel following reports of a confrontation with Bureau of Customs (BOC) operatives during the destruction of seized smuggled cigarettes in Bulacan.
HPG director Brig. Gen. Rommel S. Batangan said the move was part of an impartial investigation into why HPG‑NCR personnel raided the compound while BOC teams were carrying out their operation.
“The PNP‑HPG recognizes the seriousness of the allegations and has taken immediate steps to ensure that the incident is properly investigated,” Batangan noted.
The relieved officers were reassigned to the Human Resource Management and Doctrine Development Division–Personnel Holding and Accounting Section effective Aug. 20.
Batangan vowed to dig deeper into the circumstances of the raid and assured that “appropriate action will be taken based on the findings, in accordance with due process.”
