Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame
MANILA, Philippines — The Internal Affairs Service (IAS) recommended the dismissal of a police general over alleged irregularities in a September 2023 arrest in Parañaque City.
In an interview with reporters at Camp Crame on Friday, IAS Inspector General Brigido Dulay confirmed the decision but refused to name the general.
During the September 2023 arrest, Southern Police District (SPD) personnel apprehended 10 Chinese nationals and one Filipino individual for illegal possession of firearms at the Solemare Parksuites condominium in Parañaque City, IAS said in a statement.
Officers reported rescuing several Chinese nationals and seizing P4.6 million in cash.
The apprehended foreigners, however, complained that they were “arbitrarily detained” and that personal items not covered by the warrant were seized by the operatives.
IAS said further investigation revealed the arresting officers confiscated P27 million in cash that was not covered by the warrant and not disclosed in the inventory of recovered evidence.
The agency added that the operatives planted firearms at the scene, tried to destroy closed circuit television camera footage, and turned off their body cameras during the raid.
READ: Cops may have ‘planted’ gun in anomalous arrest vs 4 Chinese – Acop
Ten officers involved in the case were previously dismissed due to “grave misconduct, grave irregularity in the performance of duty, grave neglect of duty, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, less grave misconduct and less grave neglect of duty.”
READ: 10 cops axed for illegal arrest of 4 Chinese
Meanwhile, IAS recommended the dismissal of the general as the personnel’s commanding officer.
It concluded that the general “neglected his duty to ensure that operations were conducted in accordance with established protocols and ethical standards, leading to serious breaches of conduct by subordinate officers.”
Talking to the media on Friday, Dulay said, “Hindi pwedeng magpikit-mata ang mga commander doon sa kamalian ng kanilang mga tauhan.”
(Commanders cannot turn a blind eye to the wrongdoings of their subordinates.)
“This is an example and warning as well to our commanders that they cannot absolve themselves of responsibility when their subordinates are involved in illegal activities,” he added in Filipino.
The recommendation is now up for the approval by PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil.
If approved for dismissal, Dulay said, the general would forfeit his benefits and be perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
“We’re not pleased by imposing this type of punishment because our police, they serve for a long time, they work. But as we say, in our work at the PNP, they have to follow the law,” Dulay added in Filipino.
Although the IAS and Dulay refused to name the general, Brig. Gen. Roderick Mariano was SPD director at the time of the raid.
READ: 2 police officials cited for contempt in probe into arrest of Chinese nationals
At the House of Representatives’ investigation of the arrest, last February, Mariano was cited in contempt for allegedly lying to lawmakers during the inquiry.