Press Release
April 27, 2017

STATEMENT OF SEN. LEILA M. DE LIMA ON THE FILING OF MURDER CHARGES AGAINST TWO POLICE OFFICERS IMPLICATED IN THE KILLING OF BERTESES

I commend the Pasay City Prosecutor's Office for the indictment of PO2 Alipio Balo Jr. and PO1 Michael Tomas for their role in last year's murder of JP Bertes and his father, Renato, inside the Pasay City Jail for their alleged involvement to illegal drug trade.

When the Senate Justice Committee which I formerly chaired led the investigation into the killing of the Berteses, among others, it found out glaring evidence that these two police officers did not only blatantly ignore the standard operating procedures in arresting suspected drug offenders but also deliberately and permanently silenced the Berteses to cover up their own involvement in the illegal drug trade themselves.

While we should continue to support the fight against illegal drug trafficking in the country, there should never be a trade-off between law enforcement and the rule of law. Our police authorities should strictly adhere to the rights of the accused, including but not limited to due process of law and the presumption of innocence, as guaranteed by the Constitution even to suspected criminals.

Our government must, however, step up its efforts in resolving several other cases involving extrajudicial and summary killings and imposing strictest penalties, including imprisonment, especially against erring and abusive law enforcers. We need to send a strong signal that any police excesses will never go unpunished.

News Latest News Feed