Police told to issue receipts for evidence, seized items

PROPER turnover of evidence must be observed.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), emphasized this following the reported loss of three boxes of confiscated fish at the Danao City police station in northern Cebu.

Comendador said the incident was a result of miscommunication between the Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force and the Danao City police.

Comendador said the task force should have issued a receipt for the boxes of blasted fish that were turned over to the Danao police. The boxes were seized in a checkpoint in Danao last July 23.

The receipt ensures that someone is held accountable in case evidence is lost, said Comendador.

Comendador advised the police to follow proper receiving of evidence.

Joeffrey Merencillo, the task force’s Action Team Coordinator, earlier reported the loss of three of five boxes of fish that they turned over to the Danao police station.

Comendador and Chief Supt. Ager Ontog, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), visited the office of Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia yesterday to discuss the incident.

The task force also complained that the Danao police failed to assist them during the checkpoint and seizure.

Comendador said he advised Merencillo to properly coordinate with the CPPO for any operation so that police personnel will be assigned to them.

“They should coordinate with CPPO. We are a national organization. Our usual practice is to have coordination with the PNP from top to bottom,” he added.

Ontog said an investigation will be made to determine possible lapses committed by the Danao police that led to the disappearance of three boxes of fish worth P7,500./CORRESPONDENT CARMEL LOISE MATUS