Cops broke protocol in Espinosa raid–Magalong

The Philippine National Police (PNP)’s deputy chief for operations Police Director Benjamin Magalong admitted that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) violated the police operational procedures when it led a search inside the jail cell of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. that led to his death and that of another inmate in Leyte.

Speaking before the Senate inquiry on Espinosa’s death, Magalong, the PNP’s third in command, said there were clear violations on the part of Supt. Marvin Marcos, chief of the CIDG Eastern Visayas, for failing to coordinate with the regional police and the Baybay City sub-provincial jail before implementing the search warrant against Espinosa.

READ: Key details missing in CIDG-8 chief’s account of Espinosa raid

Asked by Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto if there were violations committed in carrying out the raid, Magalong answered: “Yes, (Marcos) should have coordinated and informed his commander at the same time all concerned units that have stake over the operations.”

“Dapat nakipagcoordinate sila, ibig sabihin ini-specify ang rules and mission ng operation. Dapat klarong klaro especially ‘yung instructions na nakasaad dun sa search warrant.”

Considering that the search would be against a high-profile target, Magalong said that based on police protocol, high-profile operations should be relayed to the leadership of the Eastern Visayas regional police and CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame even during the planning stage of the operation.

“Kahapon nagkaroon kami ng discussion with Supt. Marcos. ‘Yan ang tinanong ko sa kanya considering na high profile target, it’s a high profile operation. Ang protocol namin dyan lahat ng commanders, sa amin may tinatawag na commanders should always be informed. (Marcos) being the regional chief of CIDG Region 8, it is under the operational control of PRO 8. In the same manner, merong director ng CIDG. Both personalities should have been informed beforehand, even days before na nagpaplano pa lang sila ng operation,” Magalong said.

(Yesterday, we had a discussion with Supt. Marcos. I asked him about that since it was a high profile target, it’s a high profile operation. Our protocol there would be to inform all the commanders, we have what we call commanders who should always be informed. [Marcos] being the regional chief of CIDG Region 8  is under the same operational control of PRO 8. In the same manner, the CIDG has a director. Both personalities should have been informed beforehand, even days before when the operation was still being planned.)

The police director said Marcos’ team also violated instructions indicated in the search warrant. One of which was to have  necessary coordination with concerned units, including the Leyte provincial jail.

Leyte provincial jail warden Homobono Bardillon admitted that the CIDG operatives did not inform them ahead of the search last Saturday.

Marcos and Chief Insp. Leo Laraga, a CIDG Region 8 official who admitted shooting Espinosa during an alleged firefight, were among the 24 cops PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa ordered relieved pending an investigation of the incident. CDG/rga

READ: Dela Rosa relieves cops in Espinosa raid amid Senate probe