PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos yesterday assured justice for the 34 missing “sabungeros” as he confirmed the relief of two police officials in Laguna.
The country’s top cop said they are exerting all efforts to find the real culprits behind the mysterious disappearance of the cockfighting enthusiasts and give them the justice they deserve.
Carlos at the same time confirmed he has ordered the administrative relief of Laguna Police Provincial Office director Col. Rogarth Campo and former Laguna PPO director Col. Serafin Petalio in the aftermath of the ongoing Senate investigation into the missing “sabungeros.”
Campo and Petalio denied the charges.
Campo was replaced by Col. Cecilio Ison Jr. as Laguna police chief.
“I already administratively relieved from his post PD, Laguna PPO, Col. Campo, including former PD Col. Petalio. I also placed on RPHAS (Regional Personnel Holding Administrative Section), PRO4-A all the 8 PIB personnel after the first Senate hearing. Now, I transferred them to PHAU (Personnel Holding Administrative Unit ) of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management in Crame so they can be made available in the CIDG investigation,” Carlos said.
The country’s top cop said they are fully investigating the case amid the “very serious allegations” made against some of the policemen being probed in connection with the case of the missing “sabungeros.”
“The PNP will not take the witnesses’ accounts lightly, but the organization will have to make sure that due process is upheld. Names of PNP personnel have floated during the legislative inquiry but we will need to validate these information more thoroughly,” the PNP chief said.
PNP-CIDG director Maj. Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz earlier vowed to file criminal charges against police officers named by at least four witnesses as involved in the case.
“We believe that these witnesses are credible. They are victims and complainants too,” Cruz told the Senate.
Last week, the PNP-CIDG filed criminal charges for kidnapping and serious illegal detention against eight suspects in the disappearance of six cockfighting aficionados in Manila.
