PNP internal probe pushes dismissal of 13 Caloocan cops

Carl Angelo Arnaiz (Photo from his Facebook account)

A total of 13 Caloocan City policemen, including a senior inspector, have been recommended for dismissal from the service for their involvement in two controversial cases which led to the relief en masse of the city’s police force in September.

The recommendation, made by Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo, stemmed from administrative complaints filed against the officers over the killing of 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz and a questionable house raid.

One of those facing dismissal is Senior Insp. Warren Peralta, the leader of the team who searched a house supposedly for illegal drugs on Sept. 7. The homeowner, a 51-year-old woman, claimed that the officers stole cash and valuables worth around P26,000.

“They were found culpable of three counts of grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming and we have recommended their dismissal from the service,” Triambulo said, adding that under the principle of command responsibility, Tala police precinct commander Chief Insp. Timothy Aniway Jr. was found liable for less grave neglect of duty.

But since he was not directly involved in the operation or was nowhere near the raided house, Aniway was only recommended for a 50-day suspension. Triambulo said it was Aniway’s responsibility to know what his men were up to.

Four other policemen included in the administrative complaint were cleared because they were at the police precinct at the time of the raid.

As for the two policemen involved in the Aug. 18 killing of Arnaiz, “we have recommended the dismissal from the service of PO1 Jeffrey Perez and PO1 Ricky Arquilita for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming (of a police officer),” Triambulo said.

The two were charged administratively after claiming that they killed the teenager during a shootout after he supposedly held up a taxi driver.

However, their statement was contradicted by the cab driver, Tomas Bagcal, who said Arnaiz was captured alive with the help of bystanders. The cabbie said he turned over the teenager to the Maypajo police community precinct in Caloocan City.

Based on Bagcal’s statement, the PNP-IAS recommended that the Maypajo police precinct commander, Chief Insp. Fortunato Ecle Jr., be demoted to senior inspector for grave neglect of duty.

The corresponding punishment should have been dismissal from the service, Triambulo said, but Ecle’s awards and recognition for his past performance, as well as his being a first-time offender, were taken into consideration.

The PNP-IAS recommendations on the two cases were submitted to PNP Director Gen. Ronald dela Rosa for approval.