Crame orders probe vs Barandog, Garma

CEBU, Philippines — The national headquarters of the Philippine National Police has ordered the Police Regional Office-7 to look into the complaints of former Cebu City councilor Mary Ann delos Santos against former Cebu City Police Office director Royina Garma and city police mobile force commander Police Colonel Chuck Barandog.

 The Camp Crame took cognizance of the allegations made by De los Santos during her privilege speech in the City Council accusing the two police officials of harassment.

The PRO-7 was directed by Police Brigadier General Omega Jireh Fidel of the directorate division to submit an investigation report not later than July 30.

De los Santos delivered a privilege speech on April 23, a copy of which was furnished to PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

One of the incidents cited by De los Santos in her speech was the deaths of two barangay tanods of Lusaran after they were killed by the members of the City Mobile Force Company headed by Barandog.

According to the police, the two tanods refused to surrender and exchanged gunfire with the police last February.

Fidel, in his memorandum, ordered PRO-7 to conduct a pre-charge investigation and possible filing of administrative case, if evidence warrants, against Barandog and other police personnel, including Garma for command responsibility. Camp Crame furnished the City Council a copy of the memorandum.

The City Council, upon motion of Councilor Nestor Archival, also asked the PNP a copy of the result of the investigation.

To recall, a team from the Cebu Mobile Force Company (CMFC) led by Barandog served separate search warrants on loose firearms against the two tanods in the upland barangay of Lusaran.

According to earlier reports, the police first went to the house of couple Renato and Emma Goc-ong. Renato, a tanod, and his wife were both killed after they allegedly fired first at the police.

The second barangay tanod killed during the operation Reynaldo Laguna. The police said he resisted arrest. The tanods were allegedly keeping unlicensed guns and were involved in gun-for-hire activities. — Mae Clydyl Avila/FPL (FREEMAN)