PNP chief orders relief of 24 cops in killing of Espinosa

PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa during the press media briefing on Wednesday Nov. 2, 2016 at the PNP National Headquarters. NOY MORCOSO III/INQUIRER.net

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Thursday ordered the administrative relief of 24 policemen involved in the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. at the Leyte subprovincial jail in Baybay City last week.

In a statement from Malaysia, where he is accompanying President Duterte on a trip, Dela Rosa said that after being “appraised” of the initial results of an investigation, he directed Director Fernando Mendez Jr. of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management to issue the relief order, effective immediately, for the 18 personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) and six of Regional Maritime Unit 8 (RMU-8) involved in the jail operation.

Internal affairs

The relieved personnel were reassigned to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit at Camp Crame so they could attend the investigation being conducted by Internal Affairs Service and other government agencies such as the National Police Commission and the National Bureau of Investigation.

“Let me assure everyone that there will be no whitewash in the investigation,” Dela Rosa said.

The CIDG-8 personnel relieved were Supt. Marvin Marcos, Supt. Santi Noel Matira, Chief Insp. Leo Laraga, Senior Insp. Eric Constantino, Senior Insp. Deogracias Diaz III, Senior Insp. Fritz Blanco, SPO4 Melvin Cayobit, SPO4 Juanito Duarte, SPO2 Alphinor Serrano Jr., SPO1 Benjamin Dacallos, PO3 Norman Abellanosa, PO3 Johnny Ibañez, PO2 Neil Centino, PO1 Lloyd Ortigueza, PO1 Bhernard Orpilla, PO1 Kristal Jane Gisma, PO1 Jerlan Cabiyaan and PO1 Divine Grace Songalia.

The relieved RMU-8 personnel were Chief Insp. Calixto Canilla Jr., Insp. Lucresito Candilosas, SPO2 Antonio Docil, SPO1 Mark Christian Cadilo, PO2 John Ruel Doculan and PO2 Jaime Bacsal.