MANILA, Philippines — The police officers who were charged with murder for their role in “fabricated” drug operations in Bulacan have already been relieved from service, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar assured the public on Wednesday.
According to Eleazar, the dismissal of the seven police officers who are facing charges for murder and arbitrary detention from the Department of Justice happened around June of this year.
The case stemmed from a series of buy-bust operations in San Jose del Monte City last February, which led to the death of at least six individuals. However, investigating authorities, including the National Bureau of Investigation, found that the anti-drug stings were fake.
“Ako mismo ang pumirma ng desisyon na tanggalin sa serbisyo ang mga pulis na ito matapos mapatunayan sa aming imbestigasyon na sila ay nagtanim ng droga at baril para palabasin na ang nangyari sa Bulacan ay isang lehitimong operasyon,” Eleazar said in a statement.
(I myself signed the decision to remove these police officers from the service after we were able to prove in our investigation that they planted the illegal drugs and firearms to make it appear that what happened in Bulacan was a legitimate operation.)
“Hindi katanggap-tanggap ito at hindi ko kukunsintihin ang mga ganitong uri ng pang-aabuso at kalokohan dahil ang mga katulad nila ang sumisira sa aming kampanya laban sa droga at sa pangalan ng inyong Philippine National Police,” he added.
(We cannot accept this and would not tolerate these kinds of abusive acts as they taint the image of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, especially the name of the Philippine National Police.)
READ: NBI tags 11 Bulacan cops for killing 6 in ‘fabricated’ drug bust
Reports on Tuesday showed that the following police officers are facing complaints for murder before the Malolos City Regional Trial Court:
P/Staff Sgt. Benjie D. Enconado,
P/Staff Sgt. Irwin Joy M. Yuson,
P/Cpl. Marlon M. Martus,
P/Cpl. Edmund V. Catubay, Jr.,
P/Cpl. Harvy C. Albino,
P/Cpl. Herbert L. Hernandez
Pat. Rusco Virnar A. Madla
READ: Murder charges filed vs 7 cops in Bulacan ‘bogus’ drug bust
Aside from this, Eleazar also revealed that suspects not included in the murder charges but were accused of committing other crimes such as planting illegal drugs and firearms as evidence were also dismissed from the service.
The police officers who did not face murder charges but were slapped with other complaints — and were eventually dismissed — are P/Maj. Leo dela Rosa, P/Staff Sgt. Jayson Legaspi, P/Cpl. Jay Marc Leoncio, P/Cpl. Constante Escalante Jr., P/Cpl. Raymond Bayan, P/Cpl. Paul Malgapo, P/Cpl. Randy Camitoc, and Pat. Erwin Sabido.
Eleazar said that the Directorate reviewed the recommendation for dismissal for Personnel Records and Management, which drafted the decision that he signed.
Former San Jose del Monte police chief Lt. Col. Gil Domingo meanwhile was meted with a six-month suspension for command responsibility.
According to previous reports from PNP, the six victims just happened to pass by the area where the police officers were conducting their drug operations. All six were then arrested and detained but were not booked for any offense.
All the victims were then brought to a secluded area in San Jose del Monte’s Barangay Gaya-Gaya last February 18, before they were shot to death. PNP said that the police officers concerned however made it appear that those who were killed are drug suspects, by planting pieces of evidence.
Eleazar said that the incident is proof that the justice system in the country is working and that the entire police force would not tolerate the actions of these officers.
“Gaya ng lagi nating sinasabi, umiiral ang sistema ng hustisya sa ating bansa at ang rekomendasyon ng Department of Justice na sampahan ng kasong murder ang pitong pulis sa pagkamatay ng anim na katao sa Bulacan, kabilang ang aming desisyon na tanggalin silang lahat sa serbisyo, ay isa na namang patunay dito,” he said.
(Like what we always say, the country’s justice system works and the recommendation of the Department of Justice to file murder charges against the seven officers due to the death of six individuals in Bulacan, along with our decision to remove all of them from service, is concrete proof of that.)
“Hindi kailanman kinunsinti ng inyong PNP ang mga kaso ng pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan sa aming hanay at kasama namin ang DOJ sa paghahanap ng katotohanan at pagbibigay ng hustisya sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.
(We in the PNP have never tolerated officers within our ranks who abuse their power, and we are one with the DOJ in seeking the truth and providing justice for Filipinos.)