4 PNP officers under investigation over alleged meeting with Roxas staff

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is investigating four of its officials who reportedly had a meeting with the staff of administration standard bearer Mar Roxas in a hotel in Quezon City over the weekend.

A report by Ian Cruz on "24 Oras" on Thursday said those undergoing investigation are Director Generoso Cerbo Jr., chief of the PNP directorate for intelligence, and Chief Supts. Ronald Santos, Rainier Idio and Bernardo Diaz.

The four, along with Maj. Gen. Oscar Lactao, were reportedly spotted in Novotel in Araneta Center meeting with Roxas' staff on April 2.

At a press conference, PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ricardo Marquez said if proven guilty, police officials who engage in partisan politics will be sacked from their post.

"If there are complaints that my officers were there to discuss partisanship, to discuss how certain politicians could be provided with anything so that they will win, we will relieve our officers," Marquez said.

The military is already investigating Lactao, who admitted being at Novotel on April 2 but denied he was meeting with Roxas' supporters.

"I was there to meet a classmate, another officer in the service, who sought my advice on career matters," Lactao said.

Cerbo, meanwhile, was quoted in the report as saying that he was only invited to Novotel by retired PNP deputy director general Marcelo Garbo to discuss matters not related to politics.

Idio, for his part, also tagged Garbo as the one who invited him to Novotel.

The report, however, said Garbo was seen in a photo taken outside Novotel posting Liberal Party campaign posters on a vehicle. —KBK, GMA News