Press Release
November 26, 2016

GORDON KNOCKS SLOW IAS INVESTIGATION

Senator Richard J. Gordon yesterday criticized the Philippine National Police - Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) for its slowness in conducting investigations on erring policemen, particularly the investigation of officials and members of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Region 8 involved in the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

Gordon SAID it has been more than twenty days since Mayor Espinosa was shot dead inside his jail cell IN the Baybay City Sub-provincial Jail along with inmate Raul Yap while being served a search warrant by the members of the CIDG. And yet IAS has not yet finished its investigation and no one has been dismissed.

"In an administrative case, only substantial evidence is needed. The evidence is already there like the firearms, bullets, etc. Summary proceedings lang yan. Dapat mabilis, in five days tapos na. Summary hearings should be fast, may affidavits and counter-affidavits then pwede na mag-submit ng recommendation so that the PNP chief, who has summary dismissal powers, can order the dismissal - or acquittal - of those who are responsible," he said.

Gordon said the PNP chief and the regional directors have summary dismissal powers and can order the dismissal of erring policemen after the IAS has conducted a summary proceedings. There is also the People's Law Enforcement Board or PLEB which has jurisdiction to hear and decide citizen's complaints or cases filed before it against erring members of the PNP.

He added that policemen must remember, and citizens must be reminded of the social contract with the people, which states that the police are given guns to protect the people. If the policemen are violating the contract, their guns should be confiscated.

"Dapat mabilis umaksyon ang IAS. They should not take their sweet time in conducting investigations, dapat within five days tapos na and may recommendation na sila. Kapag mabagal sila, the citizens will think na wala silang ginagawa kaya nagagalit ang mga tao," Gordon stressed.

Three officials of the CIDG Region 8, namely: chief Supt. Marvin Marcos, Supt. Santi Noel Matira and Chief Insp. Leo Laraga, recently presented themselves before the PNP-IAS over Espinosa's death.

The IAS said they cannot fast-track the dismissal of the subject personnel because they want to build a strong case and avoid any technicalities.

The three, together with 15 other members of CIDG Region 8 involved in the death of the Albuera mayor, were placed under restrictive custody effective November 24, upon the order of PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

They are held by the Headquarters Support Service (HSS) until the final resolution of the case filed against them. The HSS head is tasked to monitor their activities and whereabouts and ensure that they are immediately available to face any inquiry.

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