Probe into Liddawa case lacks counter-affidavit

The Regional Investigation Detective Management has returned to the Mandaue City Police Office the result of the pre-investigation report they conducted against Sr. Insp. Jose Liddawa last week because it lacked his counter-affidavit.

Deputy regional director for administration Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos yesterday said RIDM chief Arturo Evangelista told him they returned the investigation report to MCPO after they found out that investigators failed to get Liddawa’s side.

The MCPO was only able to gather the affidavits from ABS-CBN reporter Ramil Paican and cameraman Joel Noel.

Liddawa is accused of driving drunk, hitting an ABS-CBN pickup while driving on the wrong side of the road, then punching the news crew last week. 

The investigation report said Liddawa committed a grave misconduct which is tantamount to conduct of unbecoming a police officer.

But Liddawa’s legal counsel, Noel Archival, said the offense committed by his client is just a case of simple misdemeanor.

“I am confident that the case will be dismissed because the police officials now are seeing the light with the help of the media,” Archival said.

Archival was referring to the footage showing that the ABS-CBN news crew also mauled Liddawa in response to his actions, causing bruises to his face.  The ABS-CBN crew earlier claimed Liddawa just collapsed out of drunkenness.

Since Liddawa submitted his counter-affidavit yesterday it is expected that investigation officer of MCPO will now have to proceed and resolve the case within three days and is expected to

submit the investigation report to the Police Regional Office-7 by Monday.

Whatever penalties due to him will be decided by the incoming PRO-7 director. — Flor Z. Perolina and Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP