Negros Oriental police officials relieved over ops that killed 14 farmers
MANILA, Philippines — The provincial director of Negros Oriental police and three other chiefs of police have been ordered relieved by Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde on Tuesday.
This is to give way to an impartial investigation into separate operations across the province that killed 14 people last Saturday, the PNP announced.
Relieved were Negros Oriental Police Provincial Director Raul Tacaca, Canlaon City Police chief Patricio Degoy, Manjuyod Police chief Roy Mamaradlo and Sta. Catalina Police chief Michael Rubia, according to reports.
JUST IN | PNP chief Oscar Albayalde has ordered the relief of the Negros Oriental police chief and station commanders of Santa Catalina, Manjuyon, and Canlaon City following the death of 14 individuals in police operations. (via @News5AKSYON) pic.twitter.com/ot3jNooiZb
— ONE News PH (@onenewsph) April 2, 2019
Albayalde and presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Monday stressed that the operations were aboveboard as cops were serving court-issued search warrants. Those who were killed “fought back”—a common explanation for deaths in anti-drug operations.
But witnesses’ accounts and rights groups asserted that the 14 killed were farmers and a “habal-habal” driver who did not have enough money to buy guns.
“Witnesses and relatives dispute the police claims, saying that these were more like ‘drug war’-style killings. Local human rights groups also drew the comparison,” Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
HRW also called for an impartial and independent investigation into the incidents, while the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura urged for a legislative probe into the killings.
‘Best legal defense’
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said the agency would provide the “best legal defense” for the PNP personnel who took part in Negros Oriental operations.
“We stand by our police officers and we will provide them with the best legal defense to help them overcome whatever legal challenges that may arise as a result of several Negros Oriental operations,” Año said in a release Tuesday.
He added: “Our law enforcers acted professionally and in accordance with the law during the conduct of police operations in Negros Oriental. They simply returned fire when the subject of the search warrants engaged them in a shoot-out.” — Gaea Katreena Cabico
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