PNP willing to assist cops tagged in death of lawyer’s aide

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde said the PNP is willing to assist the 21 police officers tagged in the death of the trusted aide and bodyguard of former Biliran Rep. and lawyer Glenn Chong.

“On the part of the PNP, we will be glad to assist them, [to give] ‘yung legal assistance sa ating mga tauhan (to our personnel) on the ground,” he said in a press conference at the national police headquarters in Camp Crame.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had earlier asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to charge the 21 police officers in Calabarzon with two counts of murder in relation to the death of Chong’s aide Richard Santillan and his companion Gessamyn Casing.

READ: NBI charges 21 cops in killing of Glenn Chong’s aide

The NBI also asked the DOJ to prosecute the chiefs of police in Calabarzon, Rizal, and Cainta for allegedly covering up the murder.

Santillan and Casing were killed in a supposed police operation on December 9. Police claimed they traded shots after ignoring a checkpoint in Cainta, Rizal, and that Santillan is a member of the “Highway Boys” group involved in gun-for-hire, carnapping, and drug selling activities.

Albayalde, meanwhile, praised the development of the case as he said it will allow the discussion of the issue in a proper avenue and not on social media, where Chong was also claiming allegations of abuse against the police.

“Maganda ‘yan at naidulog na rin sa right forum ‘yung kaso para magkaalaman na talaga kung ano ang nangyari at kung sino talaga ang may sala, and the truth will come out (It is good that the case was relayed to the right forum so that we will really know what happened and who are at fault, and the truth will come out),” he said. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)