Rizal police chief, 19 others relieved over Cainta ‘shootout’

MANILA, Philippines — The chiefs of the Rizal and Cainta police have been relieved from their posts along with 18 others in connection with an alleged shootout that left two persons dead including a lawyer’s security aide.

Senior Superintendent Lou Evangelista and Superintendent Pablito Naganag of the Rizal and Cainta police, respectively, were ordered relieved yesterday by Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, Calabarzon police  director.

“It’s an administrative relief pending investigation of the incident in Cainta,” Carranza told The STAR in a text message.

Aside from them, nine personnel of the Rizal police intelligence unit, seven from the Cainta police station and two from the Rizal Highway Patrol Group were also sacked from their posts, according to Superintendent Audie Madrideo, human resource development division chief of the regional police.

Naganag was replaced by Superintendent Gauvin Unos as officer-in-charge of the Cainta police.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) tasked Senior Superintendent Dionisio Bartolome to replace Evangelista as chief of the Rizal police.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde clarified that the officials and their men were relieved not because they were found guilty, but to ensure an impartial investigation of the incident.

The order stemmed from the killing of Richard Santillan and Gessmayn Casing in Barangay San Andres on Monday night.

Santillan, a security aide of lawyer  Glenn Chong, reportedly ignored a police checkpoint, triggering a running gunbattle. – With Ed Amoroso