INVESTIGATORS of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) have found probable cause to proceed with the administrative case filed by a whistleblower against 12 policemen linked to the case of the missing “sabungeros” or cockfighting enthusiasts.
Edmon Pares, director of the Napolcom Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS), yesterday endorsed the case against the lawmen before the commission’s Legal Affairs Service.
The IMIS was earlier tasked to conduct the preliminary investigation against the policemen who were named as respondents in the July 14 complaint filed by Julie Patidongan, alias Totoy, who claimed that they were allegedly involved in the abduction of the sabungeros.
The 12 policemen are led by Col. Jacinto Malinao Jr., who was charged by IMIS with grave misconduct, grave neglect of duty, and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.
The 11 others – Lt. Col. Ryan Jay Orap, Maj. Mark Philip Almedilla and nine non-commission officers – were charged with grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
Pares said the result of the initial probe was based mainly on the affidavit of Patindongan, but added that “other documents” were also attached to the formal complaint filed before the Legal Affairs Service.
Napolcom vice chairman Rafael Vicente Calinisan said the “lowest” and “middle” penalty for such grave offenses is suspension and demotion, respectively.
“The highest penalty for such grave offenses is dismissal from the police service and forfeiture of all benefits,” Calinisan said.
He said the 12 policemen “will be given time to file their answers, after which there will be hearings.”
Calinisan said the Napolcom has the option to place the police officers under preventive suspension. The 12 are currently under the restrictive custody of the PNP at Camp Crame.
“Under the rules, we can order the preventive suspension of policemen involved. So let us wait first. I don’t want to preempt whatever action the Napolcom will take but that is an option that the Napolcom can consider,” he said.
He also said the Napolcom is conducting an investigation to identify other policemen who may be involved in the case, even as he reiterated that the agency intends to solve the case in 60 days, starting from Patidongan’s filing of the case.
NEW WITNESS
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said a civilian witness who has direct knowledge of the disappearances of the sabungeros and has concrete evidence to corroborate Patidongan’s testimony has come out.
“Malalaman niyo very soon. May bago kaming mga testigo (You will learn something soon. We have new witnesses),” Remulla told reporters in a chance interview.
“Napakahalaga (Very important). It bolsters the credibility of alias Totoy,” he added when asked how important are the testimonies of the new witnesses.
Patidongan’s statement that the sabungeros have been killed and their bodies dumped in Taal Lake has prompted the ongoing search and recovery operations being conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard.
He has pointed to gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang as the alleged mastermind, allegations that the latter have already denied.
Pressed for details, Remulla hinted that the new witness is a suspect involved in the case.
“Dati may problema ang mga investigators to identify somebody. Yung somebody na ina-identify ito yun (Before, the investigators had a problem identifying somebody. That somebody is the new witness),” he said.
“Hindi lang ito testimonial evidence, hindi lang kuwento kundi may kalakip na sariling ebidensya (He does not only have tesimonital evidence, he also has concrete evidence),” he added.
RELIEVED
Remulla said he has asked PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III to relieve a police service commander allegedly involved in the investigation on the missing sabungeros.
“Kaya nakiusap ako kay Gen. Torre na i-relieve ang isang service commander at nangyari naman kaya malinaw na naman ang aming landas tungo sa paglutas sa problemang ito (I asked Gen. Torre to relieve this service commander and he has been relieved, so we are on the right track in resolving this case),” he said, without identifying the official’s name or rank.
He said the official is not part of the 12 officers who were charged before the Napolcom.
Asked why he asked for the official’s relief, Remulla said:
“Parang hindi angkop ang kanyang pagkilos sa magandang pag-resolve sa kaso. Parang ano lang… ayokong nag-aalangan sa isang kaso. Meron siyang kinilos na hindi ko gusto (His actions did not help in resolving the case. I don’t want to have some doubts on the case. He did something that I did not like).”
In his 4th State of the Nation Address on Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to let no stone unturned in the investigation on the missing sabungeros as he promised that justice will be given to their families. – With Ashzel Hachero
