MANILA- All members of Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 11's Drug Enforcement Unit were immediately relieved from their posts, Metro Manila Police Chief Director Camilo Cascolan said Friday.

Cascolan said the preventive suspension of 11 police officers comes after allegations of a drug-related extortion try surfaced.

Ordered relieved were nine police officers linked to extortion, PO2 Noel Sanchez, PO2 Dennis Eria, PO1 Edward Ramos, PO1 Michael Eric Ramirez, PO1 Ray John Rodriguez, PO1 Gaudencio Escoton, PO1 Sepzon Suclad, PO1 John Ryan Rodriguez, and PO1 Leny Atma.

Meanwhile, QCPD station 11 commander Supt. Igmedio Bernaldez, and Station Drug Enforcement Unit head Chief Inspector Erwin Guevarra were relieved from their posts.

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Newly-installed QCPD Director Sr. Supt. Joselito Esquivel said he ordered the relief of Bernaldez and Guevarra due to command responsibility.

“Kaya ko naman pina-relieve, kasi this is happening under his area na may extortion na ganun eh. Kabilin-bilinan natin na bantayan ang ating mga kapulisan, doble na nga ang sweldo ga-ganyan pa sila,” Esquivel said in an interview with DZMM on Friday.

A raid at the Galas Police Station was conducted on Thursday night by the QCPD Counter Intelligence Task Force, District Special Operations Unit, and Special Action Force after they received complaints that the nine police officers allegedly extorted money from detainees.

On Friday morning, Cascolan spoke with the involved policemen at Galas Police Station.

"I talked to them (behind) closed door(s). I emphasized to them na our focus is discipline... We will be investigating them," Cascolan said.

"I congratulate the SWAT team. It's a heroic job. Hindi natin masasabi kung lalaban ang mga pulis, pero maganda naman na ang ating mga pulis ay, nung pumasok ang SWAT, ay binigay naman nila," he added.

The suspended police officers will be transferred temporarily to the QCPD's Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit pending investigation on the case.

They will be replaced by police officers from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion who will be vetted carefully, Cascolan said.

If proven that they committed the crime, Cascolan said the involved policemen will face dismissal.

Philippine National Police chief Director Oscar Albayalde meanwhile told reporters in Baguio City that they are now re-validating their own illegal drugs watchlist before filing cases against suspects and policemen.

The PNP earlier declined to provide its so-called "narco list", citing operational concerns.

-with reports from Bianca Dava, and Raffy Santos, ABS-CBN News