MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police on Tuesday said that ample notice has been given to the family of retired Police Executive Master Sergeant Arnel delos Santos to relocate from their compound in the Taguig.
In an interview over CNN Philippines, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said that for two years now, the police has been telling the Delos Santoses to relocate since the compound is government-owned.
Banac said that Delos Santos and his family were allowed to live in the compound only until his retirement as the logistics officer for the PNP.
“Prior to that there have been many instances already and notices sent to the family, advising them to finalize their plans to relocate and vacate because the PNP would be needing such space for use,” Banac said.
“Now this Sergeant Delos Santos who used to work with the logistics was allowed to occupy the old motor pool for the billeting area for his family provided that when he retires, of course, he has to vacate that because he does not own the place,” he said.
Banac said the compound on which the complainant built their home was part of the Fort Bonifacio reservation area covered by the PNP’s agreement with Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“They have been presenting documents, photocopies of the certificate of occupancy of the subdivision plan, but you know this whole area of Fort Bonifacio used to be part of Armed Forces reservation so the PNP has a standing memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Navy for the use of such area,” Banac said when asked about the ownership of the property.
“And until such time that there is a court order saying otherwise, that remains to be under government property. That is a fact that PNP constructed such a facility it means to say that, from the very beginning, it was PNP who administered such space,” he added.
Last Saturday, Arles Delos Santos, son of Arnel, posted a video on Facebook of several policemen, including Major Gen. Debold Sinas, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, who went to their house in Taguig City last Saturday.
Based on the recorded video, a policeman was seen snatching a phone from a person’s hand during the confrontation of the retired policeman’s family.
Nevertheless, Banac said the PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa ordered a probe into the alleged harassment of police officers to Delos Santos’ family.