Eleazar OKs dismissal of cop involved in death of autistic teen in Valenzuela

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. Screenshot from Facebook / PNP livestream

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday approved the dismissal from service of a policeman who allegedly shot and killed an autistic 18-year-old during an anti-illegal gambling operation in May.

Eleazar said Police Senior Master Sergeant Christopher Salcedo was removed from service following the administrative charge for the death of Erwin Arnigo in an anti-illegal gambling operation conducted by Valenzuela City Police personnel on May 23.

READ: Teen with special needs killed; Valenzuela mayor says cops claim victim tried to grab their gun 

“I have signed the order for the dismissal from the service of PSMS Salcedo for grave misconduct and less grave irregularity in the performance of duty,” Eleazar said in a statement.

The move was made following the review of the Internal Affairs Service recommendation conducted by the Discipline, Law and Order Division-Directorate for Personnel and Records Management and the Office of the Chief PNP.

The National Bureau of Investigation is still conducting an investigation for the filing of a criminal complaint against Salcedo.

READ: Family of slain teenager with disability seeks NBI probe

“I have taken into consideration several factors that aggravated his offense including violation of the Police Operational Procedure as well as the fact that the teenager was a person with special needs,” Eleazar noted.

Salcedo earlier claimed that he accidentally shot the victim  after a gun scuffle.

READ: Valenzuela cop in teen’s death says his attention was ‘divided’ during ‘gun scuffle’ 

Eleazar also pointed out that Arnigo should not have been arrested by Valenzuela City police personnel — particularly Salcedo — since the teenager had no involvement with the tupada, according to investigation.

“Being a person with autism spectrum disorder, he could not have knowingly taken part in the illegal gambling activity,” he added.

Meanwhile, Eleazar affirmed the dropping of the administrative cases of grave neglect of duty and less grave neglect of duty against four other Valenzuela City police personnel who was part of the operation, saying there is no enough evidence to support their supposed administrative offenses of grave neglect of duty and less grave neglect of duty.

RELATED STORIES:

Mom of slain teen with special needs says Valenzuela cops stole son’s shirt to hide evidence 

‘No whitewash, cover-up’ in probe of Valenzuela teen’s death — Eleazar 

JPV