Marquez vows to apply law to the fullest vs 5 cops in rubout case

ONE of the first promises of the newly installed chief of the Philippine National Police is to “apply the law to the fullest” against five Manila policemen in the alleged rubout of a robbery suspect in Sampaloc, Manila.

“It’s very important to put those people involved under custody. The investigative mechanisms are working. We will apply the law to the fullest. Nakita niyo naman sa speech ko kanina nakakahiya, nakakangitngit, ” Marquez told reporters in an interview after he formally assumed as PNP chief on Thursday.

Marquez said the five policemen— Senior Inspector Romel Salazar, P03 Ferdinand Valera, P01 Ronald Depasina, P01 Jomar Landoy and P01 Ruel Andrito–who have been ordered relieved following the Tuesday incident, should be put under custody. The relieved officers have not reported to work since the incident.

In his assumption speech, Marquez slammed erring policemen and said he will make sure they will be punished.

Marquez said the disciplinary initiative by the Internal Affairs Service is ongoing.

Also in his speech, Marquez ordered the immediate review of the PNP’s disciplinary mechanism as well as the reinventing of the IAS, citing the increase in the number of policemen being involved in illegal activities.

The MPD has formed a special investigation task group to probe the alleged rubout.

On Tuesday night, robbery suspect Robin Villarosa was allegedly killed by a team of policemen from the MPD station 4 on Sosiego Street in Sampaloc, Manila.

A Closed Circuit Television footage of the incident showed that the suspect-policemen blocked a tricycle driven by Villarosa, with a back rider, passing through the area. The back rider immediately jumped from the tricycle and ran.

Villarosa then stopped his tricycle and kneeled on the street raising both of his hands, signifying his willingness to surrender. One of the policemen, however, allegedly shot him three times at close range.

The footage also showed an unidentified man who rushed to the crime scene after the shooting incident and planted something near Villarosa’s body.

The footage was shown to Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and on Thursday, after attending Marquez’s assumption of office, he visited the wake of Villarosa.

Roxas said a manhunt operation against the suspects has been activated. He also urged the five policemen to surrender to the authorities.