Hontiveros to ‘old friend’ Bato: Why let ‘murderer’ Marcos have free pass?

PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa (left) and Senator Risa Hontiveros. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday said President Duterte’s order to reinstate the cops behind the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. is “damning proof” that there are state-sanctioned killings in the country.

Duterte’s order to reinstate Supt. Marvin Marcos and 18 of his men was “a clear attempt to obstruct the course of justice” and a “tacit approval of extrajudicial killings (EJK) in the country,” said Hontiveros in a statement.

“This is outright obstruction of justice from the highest level of governance and Executive promotion of extrajudicial killings. For those who still deny that there are state-sanctioned killings, here is damning proof,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros was also dismayed by the decision of her “old friend” and “mistah” Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa, who said that “it would be a waste anyway” not to let Marcos work since he is getting paid.

The senator said she expected “better thinking from the PNP Chief.”

“We let a murderer have a free pass and go back to the uniformed service because his suspension is a waste of money? Let me remind my mistah and old friend, the PNP Chief, that the real criminal waste of taxpayers’ money are bad cops and injustices,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros’ late husband and former police official Francisco Baraquel is Dela Rosa’s classmate at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). They graduated from the military academy in 1986.

The minority senator also questioned the President for disregarding the unanimous recommendation of the Senate, including his allies, to file murder charges against the Marcos’ group.

“The Senate and even the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) concluded that the death of Espinosa is a case of extrajudicial killing. How can President Duterte dismiss those findings? For the President to order the reinstatement of Marcos absolves him and his men of any wrongdoing,” Hontiveros said.

On Wednesday, President Duterte said he wanted the reinstatement of Marcos. A day later, Marcos is back in the service and now heads the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Soccsksargen (CIDG-12).

The 18 other former members of CIDG-Eastern Visayas (CIDG-8) will be sent to either to CIDG-12 or CIDG Central Visayas (CIDG-7).

Marcos’ former team in the CIDG-8 led the raid at the Baybay City Jail in Leyte that resulted in the killing of Espinosa and his fellow inmate Raul Yap. JE

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