MANILA, Philippines — Former Biliran Rep. Glenn Chong on Thursday filed criminal and administrative complaints against the director of the Calarbarzon police for allegedly “refusing to disclose” evidence supporting the shootout that killed his aide.
Authorities earlier said the lawyer’s trusted aide for 11 years, Richard Santillan, was a member of a local crime gang, “Highway Boys,” involved in illegal drugs, and that he was killed in a shootout in Cainta, Rizal on Dec. 10, 2018.
Chong and Santillan’s widow, Jeanette, filed the complaint against Chief Supt. Edward Carranza before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly violating laws governing the obstruction of criminal prosecution, as well as laws establishing a code of conduct for public officials.
In the complaint, they said Carranza “maliciously and feloniously refused to disclose” the operatives involved directly or indirectly in the alleged torture and killing of his aide and the intelligence and incident reports on the shootout.
The complainants also said Carranza prevented them from accessing the Toyota Fortuner, dashboard camera, mobile phone and personal effects of Santillan for forensic examination.
The regional police director also “willfully, maliciously and feloniously concealed” the alleged intelligence reports, and other related documents and information to the death of Santillan, according to the complainants.
Chong and Santillan’s widow added that the Carranza “willfully, maliciously and grossly failed” to reply and take appropriate action on the legitimate demands of their camp.
The Philippine National Police earlier dismissed Chong’s claim that his aide was tortured, saying Santillan was involved in the illegal narcotics trade. /ee
READ: PNP: No torture of lawyer’s aide