GMA to PNP on alleged rubout: Punish everyone concerned

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo expressed alarm yesterday over reports that some policemen summarily executed three suspected car thieves and ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately investigate the incident and “punish everyone concerned.”

At the National Police Commission (Napolcom), vice chairman Eduardo Escueta said yesterday the policemen involved in the incident violated police operational procedure.

Senior Superintendent Elmo San Diego, who is heading a PNP investigation into the shooting, said Inspector Angelo Nicolas “had been relieved” of his command.

Nicolas was head of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) anti-car theft unit and led a police team that shot the suspects with automatic weapons Tuesday night.

Two policemen involved in the shooting – Senior Police Officer 1 Frederick Torres and Police Officer 3 Randy Barrameda – have been disarmed and confined to office duties, San Diego said.

He said initial findings had shown “glaring violations” of police operational procedure, such as excessive firing of guns and not wearing proper uniform.

San Diego said the initial findings would have to be supported by evidence and witness testimonies before a formal inquiry was ordered.

The alleged rubout was filmed by ABS-CBN, and San Diego criticized the television network for not giving the QCPD a copy of the raw footage because “the footage that we have is not admissible as evidence.”

ABS-CBN, in a statement, said they “believe there is nothing more to add beyond what we have aired and continue to air in the spirit of the public’s right to know.”

QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit chief Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag said they were planning to file charges of obstruction of justice against ABS-CBN.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said there was no reason for some police officials to blame the media for reporting the alleged rubout of suspected car thieves and warned police against harassing or threatening journalists who covered the incident.

“The President views this incident very gravely,” Remonde said. “Any officer of the law who will go in excess in the performance of their duties or applying inappropriate measures should be sanctioned to the full extent of the law.”

He added that Malacañang is ordering the PNP to “look into this and punish everyone concerned, no matter who they are. Definitely the Palace does not condone any use of excessive force.”

Escueta said the QCPD leadership should not stop at the relief of concerned police officers, but work for their dismissal from service. – With Reinir Padua