PNP sacks officers in shootout with lawyer’s security aide in Rizal

MANILA, Philippines — The provincial director of the Rizal regional police and the chief of Cainta police were relieved from their posts pending investigation of the alleged shootout of their personnel with the slain security aide of election reform lawyer Glenn Chong.

Rizal police director Senior Supt. Lou Evangelista, Cainta police chief Supt. Pablito Naganag, and 10 other police officers of the Regional Intelligence Division of the Rizal police have been relieved from their posts, Chief Supt. Edward Carranza, regional director of Calabarzon police, said in a phone interview on Thursday.

Carranza said he ordered the relief of the police officers on Wednesday.

Chong’s aide Richard Santillan and a woman were killed in an alleged encounter with the police in Barangay San Andres, Cainta, Rizal on Monday.

Police said the fatalities and two others were spotted on board a Toyota Fortuner owned by Chong, which did not have a validation sticker.

Police said they flagged down the vehicle but Santillan tried to escape, triggering a chase with the lawmen which later resulted in a shootout that led to his death.

Police said Santillan and the group were alleged members of “Highway Boys,” an organized crime syndicate engaged in robbery-holdup, arms dealing, and illegal drugs.

Chong has slammed the operation, denying that his aide had firearms and a grenade inside the vehicle. He said the recovered pieces of evidence were planted by the police.

Chong said he will also file murder charges against the policemen involved in the operation. /jpv