CHR-7 summons Navarro escorts

CEBU, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights - 7 has served a subpoena to the policemen who escorted slain mayor David Navarro in line with the agency’s own investigation into the ambush on October 25, 2019.

Among those CHR-7 summoned are Police Major Eduard Sanchez, the former chief of the Abellana Police Station and Police Captain Jun Matugas, the chief of Clarin, Misamis Occidental where Navarro was mayor.

Sanchez was relieved from his post effective Friday last week.

The two police officers were in the police convoy that was transporting Navarro to the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office when ambushed by at least 10 armed men in masks. Matugas, for one, was in the same vehicle as Navarro. He was reportedly requested to come to Cebu and escort the mayor as he was one of his trusted personnel.

Leo Villarino, CHR-7 chief investigator, confirmed to reporters that they have served the subpoena even as the National Bureau of Investigation also started its own investigation into the incident.

“Still, ato gihapong gipadala atong subpoena as part of our routine procedures. We will wait for the reply of our subpoena,” Villarino said.

He said they have not summoned former Cebu City Police Director Gemma Vinluan just yet.

“We will see later kung necessary ba nga ato syang imbitahon,” Villarino said.

Like Sanchez, Vinluan was also relieved from her post.

Villarino said Sanchez’ relief will not matter in CHR-7’s investigation since the decision to relieve him of his post administratively was a decision from the PNP itself to pave way for an investigation.

Aside from the cops, Villarino said they have also served subpoena to a ‘vital witness’ to shed light on the incident and to help them along in their investigation.

“We took him as a vital witness. Makatabang ni siya sa paghayag sa unsay nahitabo didto (ambush).” Vilarrino said.

The police were supposed to file charges against Navarro for allegedly mauling a spa attendant and harassing a massage therapist while in Cebu City on October 23.

Training

At the Cebu City Hall, Councilor Lea Japson urged the police to include in their list of priorities the training on countering ambuscade-style of lawlessness.

She pointed out the seeming lack of resistance on the part of the policemen who escorted Navarro during the ambush “because they were caught off-guard."

"It is a common knowledge that police are trained to protect the person in their custody whether high profile or not whatever it cost," Japson said in a resolution.

"The latest development is very alarming since not even a single shot was fired by the police escort against the perpetrators of the crime. This clearly shows that the police escorts were not prepared for this untoward incident," reads the resolution.

Section 16 of Republic Act 7160 or Local Government Code of 1991 provides that, "every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare."  JMO (FREEMAN)