Seventy-two officers and personnel of the Quezon City Police District

with alleged links to illegal drugs and other irregularities were relieved from their posts on Monday.

Senior Superintendent Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, city police district director, re-assigned the 72 officers and personnel to the District Headquarters Support Unit in the

district police headquarters in Camp Karingal, Barangay Botocan.

"We removed them from their respective assignments while they are being investigated," Eleazar said in a news briefing.

Eleazar based their relief was based on information from barangay officials, the civilian community and drug pushers and users who have surrendered.

Sixty-nine who are assigned at different police stations in Quezon City and the district police's anti-carnapping unit were reportedly linked to the illegal drug trade while the other three were accused of violating provisions of the Anti-Torture Act.

Two are officials with the rank of chief inspector and senior inspector. Another is a non-uniformed personnel while the rest are police non-commissioned officers.

If proven guilty during an administrative probe, they will be dismissed from the service. Emmanuel Tupas