Manila police official moved to new post pending probe

The police commander of the precinct where two robbery suspects were allegedly tortured by four Manila policemen was relieved from his post pending the outcome of the continuing investigation into the incident.

The Manila Police Department’s Sta. Cruz Station 3 commander, Superintendent James Afalla, ordered the administrative relief and reassignment of Blumentritt police community precinct head Inspector Eduardo Morata for the duration of the investigation by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

Afalla assigned the PCP commander to the administrative section of MPD Sta. Cruz Station 3, and designated Senior Police Officer 4 Cenon Parungao as officer-in-charge of the Blumentritt detachment.

The police official said the move was initiated to pave the way for an impartial investigation of the alleged torture incident.

Police Officers 1 Lester Caguintuan, Christopher Duran, Richard Closa and Andrei Nuñez, who are suspected of involvement in the incident, fall under Morata’s jurisdiction.