2 hurt in Tondo fire

Three police officers were removed from their posts in connection with a leaked video that showed the body of the late actor Ronaldo Valdez. Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, Quezon City Police District, said yesterday he ordered the relief of Se- nior M/Sgt. Wilfredo Calinao, Cpl. Romel Rosales and QCPD Station 11 commander Lt. Col. Reynante Parlade. “We will file administrative and criminal complaints,” Maranan said in an interview. Maranan said Calinao was the first responder who took the video of Valdez, which later went viral on social media platforms. Maranan did not mince words when asked about Calinao’s actions. “If you are a first responder, your job is just to secure the scene. You should not be taking a video,” he said. The investigation of Valdez’s death is the function of police offi- cers of the QCPD’s criminal investi- gation and detection unit, Maranan added. An investigation is underway to determine how the video made its way to Facebook and other social media platforms. Parlade, meanwhile, was re- lieved based on the doctrine of command responsibility. Rosales was the one who posted the video in their Viber group chat. Police have also tracked down three civilians who posted a copy of the video on Facebook. They face criminal charges for violating Re- public Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act and RA 10173, the data privacy law. Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP public information officer, urged netizens to refrain from sharing the video on their social media accounts. “It was not intended to be shared. Let us respect the privacy of the vic- tim and his family,” she said. Belmonte orders investigation Also yesterday, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte condemned the leak of the video. Describing it as a breach of pri- vacy and basic human decency, Belmonte directed Maranan to conduct an investigation against all police personnel involved at the scene with corresponding sanctions to those at fault. “Police procedures, including evidence collection, should be me- ticulously recorded without violating the principles of trust, professional- ism and confidentiality that our law enforcers should uphold,” she said. Valdez, 76, died at his home in Quezon City on Dec. 17. The cause of his death has yet to be released, with the QCPD vowing to conduct a thorough investigation. Belmonte urged Filipinos to re- frain from sharing the leaked video. She also expressed her condolences to the family and friends of the late actor. “Let us respect the privacy and dignity of the late actor and his fam- ily in this time of intense grief. It is highly distasteful for anyone to use the sad and unfortunate demise of an individual to gain social media mileage and popularity,” she added. – With Janvic Mateo By EMMANUEL TUPAS 3 cops axed over leak of Ronaldo Valdez video A lone bettor in Quezon City won the P310.6-million jackpot of the Super Lot- to 6/49 in Tuesday night’s lotto draw. Melquiades Robles, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general man- ager and vice chairman of the board, said yesterday the bettor guessed the winning combination 30-16-33-12-29-25 with the jackpot carrying exactly P310,696,635.40. There were also 116 second prize winners who will each get P50,000 for guessing all but one of the six-digit win- ning combination. The PCSO set the minimum jackpot of all its lotto games – Regular Lotto 6/42, the Mega Lotto 6/45, the Ultra Lotto 6/58, the Grand Lotto 6/55 and the Super Lotto 6/49 – to P89 million last Oct. 30 to mark its 89th year. The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law imposes a 20 percent tax on all lotto winnings above P10,000. The Super Lotto 6/49 is drawn every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. – Rainier Allan Ronda QC bettor wins P310.6-M lotto pot Eleven witnesses in former senator Leila de Lima’s third and final drug case have been ordered by a Muntinlupa court to be returned to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City from the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro. The transfer was ordered by Judge Gener Gito of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch on Dec. 13 in response to a motion filed by De Lima on Nov. 21 asking for the transfer of seven inmates who claimed that they were coerced to make false testimonies against her. According to De Lima, she received a handwritten letter signed by German Agojo, Tomas Doniña, Jaime Patcho, Wu Tuan Yuan, Engelberto Durano, Jerry Pepino and Hans Anton Tan expressing their intention to recant their testimonies. De Lima asked the court to summon them to confirm the “authenticity and truth- fulness” of their claims as well as to ensure their safety and security. Apart from the seven inmates, four other witnesses – Herbert Colangco, Noel Marti- nez, Nonilo Arile and Noel Capones – have been ordered to be returned to the NBP. All 11 witnesses have been ordered to be moved to the NBP’s minimum security compound. De Lima, who was released on bail, is fac- ing the last drug case against her involving her alleged participation in the illegal drug trade in the NBP during her time as justice secretary. Firefighters respond to a fifth-alarm fire that razed at least 100 houses in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday night.