PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has ordered the dismissal of five Laguna policemen who were linked to the kidnapping of an e-sabong master agent in August last year.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, said authorities have yet to uncover the mastermind behind the case of missing sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts, adding probes are ongoing to determine the identity of the mastermind or masterminds.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said Azurin signed last week the dismissal order of the five cops on the recommendation of the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS), which looked into the administrative case of the lawmen.
The five were Lt. Henry Sasaluya, Master Sergeant Michael Claveria, Staff Sgt. Daryl Panghangaan, and Patrolmen Roy Navarete and Regil Brosas.
Fajardo said the five were still in the restrictive custody of the Calabarzon regional police office as of yesterday, adding the PNP will “let go of them” after they receive the official copy of their dismissal order.
Fajardo said the five were found guilty of grave misconduct for kidnapping the master agent, Ricardo Lasco, at his residence in San Pablo City, Laguna on August 30 last year. Lasco is still missing.
“They even introduced themselves as NBI (agents)… Undoubtedly, this is outside the function of the PNP so it’s just proper to dismiss them (from the service),” said Fajardo.
She said the five can appeal the decision but added: “Whatever leverage they are going to use, I doubt if they can return to the service due to the gravity of the case they faced.”
In a statement issued through its Public Information Office, the PNP said Azurin dismissed the five from the service last December 9. It added the five were given due process.
“The IAS found substantial evidence to recommend their dismissal after it found the five police personnel guilty of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer,” the statement said.
“The swift resolution on the administrative action made against these erring personnel is a manifestation of the continuous internal cleansing being implemented in the PNP,” it added.
State prosecutors have indicted Panghangaan, Navarette and Brosas for kidnapping and robbery in connection with the August incident. The indictment was made based on a November 25 resolution that the justice department released last Monday.
Sasaluya and Claveria were spared from the criminal cases after the complainants — Lasco’s partner Princess Montanez and two others — failed to identify them from a rogue gallery.
Fajardo said Sasaluya and Claveria can still be included in the case once the PNP obtains additional evidence against them.
ONGOING PROBE
The National Bureau of Investigation and the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group are leading the investigation on the missing sabungeros.
“It is not yet clear at this point. We will point to the mastermind once we have the evidence. Because evidence is needed. We cannot just put blame on people if we have no evidence,” Remulla said.
“We have to be able to at least get a testimony saying that some people are responsible for it. Ang mastermind kasi puwede mo lang ituro ‘yan pag may magsasalita o kaya meron kang criminal organization na involved,” he added.
Remulla also said he believes the families of the missing sabungeros have accepted the fate of their loved ones but are bent on getting justice.
“What they are really after is justice. I know they have already accepted their fate. What they really want is peace of mind and justice for their missing loved ones,” he said.
Some of the sabungeros have been reported missing as early as 2021.
Remulla met with the families early this month to apprise them of developments in the ongoing probe.
Remulla said he informed the families of the consequences of every case filed, adding he told them “double jeopardy” may occur should the evidence presented is insufficient and the presumption is that the sabungeros are alive.
“For example, if we file information and the evidence is not strong enough and the presumption is that they are alive, if they are acquitted, then we will be confronted with double jeopardy even if we find additional evidence after,” he explained.
But Remulla said all circumstances point to the fact that the missing sabungeros may no longer be alive. — With Ashzel Hachero
