Napolcom drops CamSur guv as deputy over shooting incident

MANILA, Philippines - The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has revoked its deputation of Camarines Sur Governor Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte as its representative following his alleged non-cooperation in the probe of a shooting incident in Barangay Gata, Caramoan on March 22 where four small-scale miners were killed.

The Napolcom in its order dated June 9, 2014, said Miguel Luis' "unwarranted refusal to cooperate with police authorities in (the) investigation of the shooting incident, his “evident cuddling” (sic) of individuals carrying high powered firearms and his deliberate refusal to provide information to the police on the incident, are valid and justifiable grounds for the withdrawal of his deputation as (its) agent or representative."

The Napolcom order is an offshoot of a shooting incident that took place in Barangay Gata, Caramoan on March 22 where four small-scale miners were killed allegedly by members of the Sagip Kalikasan Task Force (SKTF).

Formed in September 2004 by then Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymond Villafuerte, father of the incumbent governor, the SKTF was tasked to monitor the quarrying activities within the province, collect fees and taxes due to the provincial government through the establishment of checkpoints in strategic locations within the province and file appropriate court actions against illegal quarrying operators.

In its operations, the SKTF, which is under the office of the governor, utilized the members of the Camarines Sur Civilian Security Unit.

According to the Napolcom,  during the incumbency of then governor Luis Villafuerte, there were allegedly numerous incidents of abuse in the conduct of checkpoints being manned by members of the SKTF that had been reported to the Camarines Sur police.

Two days after the shooting incident, the Napolcom said  Senior Supt. Arnold Albis, Camarines Sur Police chief, wrote a letter to  Miguel Luis requesting vital documents that would help in the investigation, including the authority of Task Force Kalikasan to conduct checkpoints within the province and the roster of personnel involved in such checkpoint activities.

However, the day after the incident, the Napolcom said, Miguel Luis, without conducting any formal investigation and without responding to the request of Albis, "immediately exculpated the members of the SKTF, the CSU and provincial guards by “making a gratuitous statement that these personnel have nothing to do with the subject incident.'"

The Napolcom said  Miguel Luis' deliberate refusal to provide information to the police on the incident, are valid and justifiable grounds for the withdrawal of his deputation as (its) agent or representative.

The Napolcom order on the removal or revocation of the duties, obligations, powers and prerogatives vested unto  Miguel Luis  as Napolcom deputy was signed by Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary and Napolcom Chairman Mar Roxas, Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Eduardo Escueta, Philippine National Police chief and Napolcom Commissioner Alan Purisima, and Napolcom Commissioners Luisito Palmera, Alexander Urro and Constancia de Guzman.

The Napolcom decision was made based on the endorsement of the Regional Director of Napolcom, Region 5 dated May 7, 2014 based on a confidential report of the OIC, Regional Director, Region 5 of the Department of Interior and Local Government expressing his support for the temporary suspension or withdrawal of Miguel Luis' deputation.