5 Manila cops snub probe on reporter’s arrest try

Five Manila policemen who tried to serve an arrest warrant on a newspaper reporter covering Malacañang last Monday did not show up at a police inquiry yesterday looking into the incident which stirred outrage from local and foreign journalists.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., head of the National Capital Regional Police Office’s investigation and detective management division, gave the five until next week to appear.

"Maybe they have their own reason why they failed to show up before our investigators so we would give them another chance," Rojas told The STAR.

Last Monday, the five officers, detailed at the Manila Police District’s warrant section, tried to serve a warrant of arrest on Business Mirror reporter Mia Gonzales, who was in the presidential palace that day.

It drew outrage from other reporters covering Malacañang as well as local and international media groups. The warrant stemmed from a libel suit filed by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in 2004.

Rojas said he would direct the MPD to submit their initial report of the incident so the five policemen would be identified.

Once we have their names, we would summon them personally anew so they could appear before us not later than next Thursday," said Rojas.

NCRPO chief Director Reynaldo Varilla warned that the five Manila officers would be held administratively liable if they again snub the second summons next week.

The five policemen claimed they were merely informing Gonzales of the warrant on her and that she wasn’t being arrested.

Rojas said an MPD report showed that the five policemen coordinated with the National Press Club.

The Philippine National Police and the Department of Interior and Local Government have an agreement with the NPC regarding the serving of arrest warrants on journalists facing libel suits.

"We will coordinate with the NPC whether they received the letter coordination sent them by the five Manila policemen," said Rojas.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon has earlier ordered an investigation.

Rojas said they would also determine whether MPD officer-in-charge (OIC) Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa shoud be held liable for command responsibility on the incident.

Varilla and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza discussed the incident during a one-on-one meeting last Thursday, among other things. They refused to give details.