Police torture prober named MPD OIC

MANILA, Philippines - The chief investigator of the police torture video has taken over the command of the Manila Police District (MPD), less than 24 hours after the original appointee was replaced amid allegations of his involvement in the kidnapping of two drug suspects from Hong Kong.

Chief Supt. Roberto Rongavilla, the head of Task Force Asuncion, took over from Senior Supt. Francisco Villaroman. The latter had barely warmed his seat as replacement of Chief Superintendent Rolando Magtibay when informed of the development. Magtibay is on indefinite leave following the bungled rescue of Hong Kong tourists held hostage by a dismissed police officer on Monday at the Rizal Park. Hostage taker Rolando Mendoza and eight of his hostages ended up dead after an 11-hour standoff.

Rongavilla said he is happy with his new assignment and that he would do his best to help the police force rebuild its reputation.

He said he would also strive to strenghten MPD’s partnership with the city government led by Mayor Alfredo Lim.

The new MPD chief paid a courtesy call on Lim yesterday.

Rongavilla, a graduate of PMA Class ’79, was the No. 2 man of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig, before his new appointment.

Rongavilla said it was NCRPO director Leocadio Santiago who informed him of his new assignment late Thursday as “MPD OIC.”

Rongavilla’s first assignment was in Lanao del Sur from 1979 to 1981 when he was transferred to the Constabulary Anti-Narcotics Unit in Camp Crame.

Prior to his assignment at the NCRPO, Rongavilla was with the Police Community Relations (PCR), also in Camp Crame. He had also served as chief of police of Parañaque and Muntinlupa.

Rongavilla said Villaroman and Santiago were his classmates at the PMA.

He described Villaroman as a good police officer and a consistent awardee during his younger years.

“He is very professional and a strict disciplinarian. I have known him for a long time. We are good friends. I immediately called him up and congratulated him after he was chosen OIC of MPD,” Rongavilla said.

When asked if Villaroman had called to congratulate him, Rongavilla said not yet.

Villaroman was not present when Rongavilla assumed his new position at MPD.

Rongavilla declined to comment on reports that Villaroman was immediately replaced because of his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of two Hong Kong drug suspects.

He noted that when given assignments, they do not question their superiors. “At the PNP, we are trained to obey first. We just follow orders,” Rongavilla said.

“We must instill discipline to live up to the expectation as Manila’s Finest,” he said.

He was head of Task Force Asuncion, which is investigating the torture of a holdup suspect by Senior Inspector Joselito Binayug at a Tondo police precinct. The torture was caught on video.

Rongavilla immediately ordered the relief of Superintendents Rogelio Rosales Jr. and Ernesto Tendero Jr., commanders of the Raxabago and Moriones, Tondo police stations, respectively, over their alleged involvement in the torture of a robbery suspect.

Rongavilla said they would support the investigation into last Monday’s bloody hostage drama even though they are not directly involved in the probe.

Lim said he had no hand in the appointment of the new MPD chief and that he had only learned of the new appointment from PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa in a phone call.

Lim said he was not privy to the reason behind Villaroman’s sudden replacement.

“Ask Verzosa,” Lim said.

Villaroman had served as detective bureau chief of MPD, then Western Police District, from 1996 to 1997 prior to his assignment as deputy intelligence chief in the Central Mindanao region, including North and South Cotabato, Saranggani and General Santos City. – With Nestor Etolle