THERE’S NO PUSSYFOOTING FOR POLICE Curiosity did not kill these kittens, which seem to be puzzling over the identity of one of two men killed by police reportedly in an encounter in Barangay Rosario, Pasig City, early Friday. RAFFY LERMA
The Philippine National Police is prepared to present to the Senate justice committee the policemen identified as members of the vigilante group Davao Death Squad (DDS) by confessed hit man Edgar Matobato.
“We will comply with what was ordered for the next hearing, [that] they be presented,” PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos told reporters on Friday, referring to the committee’s decision to summon the policemen in an executive session on Sept. 28.
The names of the 23 former and active policemen were provided by Matobato to Sen. Leila de Lima, who mentioned them in her privilege speech last week.
During a hearing on Thursday, the Senate committee on justice and human rights said it will summon the policemen to an executive session to give them a chance to refute Matobato’s claims.
The policemen will be in civilian clothes with other people in a holding room, where Matobato will be asked to point them out.
De Lima, quoting Matobato, identified the 19 policemen and four civilians as Senior Superintendents Rey Capote, Tony Rivera, Dionisio Abude and Isidero “Dick” Floribel/Florobel; Chief Inspectors Jacy “Jay” Francia, Fulgencio Pavo and Ronald Lao; Senior Police Officers 4 Arthur Lascanas and Sanson “Sonny” Buenaventura; Senior Police Officers 3 Jim Tan, Jun Laresma, Donito “Pogi” Ubales; Senior Police Officers 2 Enrique “Jun” delos Reyes Ayao and Rizalino “Bobong” Aquino; Senior Police Officers 1 Reynante Medina, Bienvenido Furog, Vivencio “Jun” Jumawan, Jun Bisnar, Gaston Aquino, Bienvenido Laud, Alvin Laud, Roly Engalia and Arnold Ochavez.
Carlos said the PNP’s Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) were verifying the names of the policemen as well as their status in the police service. According to the DPRM’s initial report, 10 remain in active service, with eight still assigned in Davao, and two assigned to the Presidential Security Group. Eight have retired while one is deceased.
Carlos said the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) and the Directorate Investigation and Detection Management (DIDM) will determine whether there are pending complaints against the named policemen and look for the police reports they had submitted to national headquarters.
Validation
“The IAS, on its own, is conducting validation while the DIDM will be looking at their case folders,” Carlos said.
He said the DIDM will also search its records to determine if the policemen had submitted records of the cases they handled in Davao.
Lawyer Shella Castillo, IAS legal service chief, said the 19 policemen will not be placed in floating status since Matobato’s claims remained allegations until proven otherwise.
Castillo also appealed for the public’s patience in the IAS’ administrative investigation of incidents involving suspects killed during legitimate police antidrug operations.
She said the IAS so far has 461 pending investigations and had terminated or dropped 113 others. One case had prospered, with the respondent policeman subjected to summary dismissal proceedings.
According to PNP statistics, 1,198 drug personalities had been killed in legitimate operations from the time President Duterte assumed his post, until Sept. 23. Another 2,140 had also been recorded killed as of Sept. 20, but the PNP said the deaths were not automatically extrajudicial, vigilante or summary killings. TVJ
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