PNP spokersperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos. Photo by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to present the cops who were allegedly members of the vigilante group Davao Death Squad before the Senate for the continuation of the inquiry on alleged extrajudicial killings under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame on Friday, PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) has invited the PNP members whom confessed assassin Edgar Matobato named as members of the death squad.
“They will be asked to appear in the next inquiry and attend the executive session. The DPRM has already contacted and invited them for the next inquiry,” Carlos said.
During her privilege speech at the Senate, ousted committee on justice and human rights chair Senator Leila De Lima read a list of names of PNP members allegedly involved in killings in Davao City.
The following cops were: Chief Inspector Jacy “Jay” Franca, Chief Inspector Ronald Lao, SPO4 Arthur Lascanas, SPO3 Jim Tan, SPO4 Samson “Sonny” Buenaventura, SPO1 Reynante Medina, SPO1 Bienvenvenido Furog, SPO1 Vivencio “Jun” Junawan, SPO2 Enrique “Jun” Delos Reyes Ayao, SPO3 Jun Laresma, SPO2 Rizalino “Bobong” Aquino, SPO3 Donito “Pogi” Ubales, SPO1 Jun Bisnar, SPO1 Gaston Aquino, Senior Superindent Isidero “Dick” Florivel/Florobel, Senior Superintendent Rey Capote, Senior Superintendent Tony Rivera, Senior Superintendent Dionisio Abude, Bienvenido Laud, Alvin Laud, Roly Engalia and Arnold Ochavez.
READ: Matobato testimony on ‘DDS’ not enough to file raps vs cops—PNP
However, taking the suggestion of Senator Panfilo Lacson, the cops will only appear before the Senate panel in an executive session “to protect their privacy.”
“The senator sees it right to protect these policemen na basta na lang nabanggit. OK lang sana kung naging very clear o walang pagdududa o walang pagbabaliktad sa pahayag ni Matobato eh karamihan, hearsay, hindi personal knowledge except for one or two na he keeps on mentioning na kasama niya, kawawa naman yung ibang bastang nabanggit,” Carlos said.
(The senator sees it right to protect these policemen who were blatantly mentioned. It would have been all right if it was very clear or there were no doubts or flip-flopping on Matobato’s statements but most of them were just hearsay, not personal knowledge except for one or two that he keeps on mentioning. It was a pity their names were mentioned.)
Out of the 19 cops mentioned, nine are still in active service and are assigned to Davao City Police Office, eight have retired from the service while one is deceased.
Meanwhile, PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) spokesperson Lawyer Shella Castillo said the IAS has been conducting motu propio investigation since the names of the cops surfaced in the Senate hearing. /rga