PNP chief backs Garbo on Capitol handling

CAMP Crame will stand by its officials if they face cases arising from the valid discharge of their duties, the country’s top police chief said yesterday.

“We are just doing our job,” said PNP Director General Alan Purisima when asked about the string of cases filed against Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr. and other police officials in relation to the recent Capitol standoff.

Purisima was in Cebu yesterday for PNP anniversary rites.

Purisima said that while everyone has the right to seek redress in court, any charges filed without basis may be considered harassment.

Purisima said he would check at his office for letters sent by suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama who complained of Garbo’s handling of the Capitol standoff.

Rama criticized as an overkill the deployment of 200 men from the Cebu provincial police office who were sent to guard the Capitol instead of letting the Cebu city police handle it.

The Capitol standoff was triggered by a  six-month suspension order served on Garcia at her office on Dec. 19, 2012.

Garcia defied the order, calling it “illegal” and refused to leave her office for six weeks.

Administrative and criminal charges were filed last month against Garboand other officials.

They were charged with robbery for confiscating three tents in the Capitol. The tents, used by supporters of Garcia for a prayer vigil, were removed on orders of Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale.

A complaint for robbery was filed by the governor’s son Paulo and two male companions. This  followed a police complaint filed against them for direct assault for allegedly hitting a police officer in the head during a commotion with Garcia supporters past 11 p.m.

The incident was caught on TV cameras.

Garbo also sought to revoke Paolo’s firearm license and accreditation of the Garcia family’s security agency. Paolo was one of three men identified in a complaint for direct assault by Insp. Alvino Enguito, police regional safety batallion before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s office.

Inspector Enguito in turn was named a respondent in the robbery case with  Garbo and  Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, commanding officer of the PNP Regional Public Safety Battalion. Correspondent Chito Aragon and Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac