Duterte cop escorts face probe

MANILA, Philippines -  The two police escorts of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte would face a probe for possible neglect of duty when they failed to stop her from attacking the court sheriff last Friday, a police official said yesterday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said Police Officers 2 Dennis Cabudti and Roy Osiones apparently failed to prevent Duterte from beating up court sheriff Abe Andres.

Cruz said the PNP is investigating possible lapses of the Davao City Police in providing security in the area at the time of the demolition, during which Duterte attacked Andres with her fists.

“We are still checking who was on duty at the time (of the confrontation). Senior Superintendent Rene Asperas of the Davao City Police has started the investigation,” Cruz said.

Cruz said the initial information indicated the two police escorts did not stop Duterte from attacking Andres.

He said the failure to prevent the violent altercation between Duterte and Andres constituted neglect of duty on the part of the two policemen.

If any of the police officers lifted a hand against Andres, Cruz pointed out this could be an act of grave misconduct, which is punishable with separation from the service.

Duterte figured in a scuffle with Andres last Friday in her effort to save thousands of families from being evicted from their homes.

Duterte said Andres ignored her request to stay the demolition of the squatter colony in Barangay Soliman in Agdao district since it would affect thousands of families that were already suffering from the floods last week.

Duterte went on leave for five days starting Monday to allow an investigation into the incident.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will still pursue the investigation of the possible liability of Duterte.

He said the DILG “will complete the fact-finding with or without the testimony of Andres.

Two DILG lawyers Christopher Tiu and Romeo Benitez arrived in Davao on Monday to interview the protagonists.

Andres, for his part, yesterday declared he would not press charges against Duterte.

“Ang gusto ko lang matahimik na lahat (what I wanted is for everyone to calm down),” Andres told newsmen in Davao City.

Andres also denied going into hiding after failing to attend the meeting with Supreme Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez in Manila last Monday.

Andres said he had filed a three-day leave of absence even before the incident with Duterte.

“I did not hide. I just want to be quiet while I am on leave,” he said.

Andres said his family was affected by the incident. He added that he already explained to his family the intricacies of his job as a court sheriff and such incidents are part of the hazards of the job.

It was gathered that Andres was suspended by the Supreme Court (SC) for gross neglect of duty and grave abuse of authority in 2008.

The suspension stemmed from the complaint of one Kenneth Hao who alleged that Andres had seized nine motor vehicles from him.

On Oct. 21, 2005, Judge Emmanuel Carpio ordered Andres to immediately cease and desist from further implementing the order of seizure and return the motor vehicles including their accessories to Hao.

However, on Oct. 24, 2005, eight of the nine seized motor vehicles were missing. 

Andres reported that he was shocked to find that the motor vehicles were already missing upon inspection on Oct. 22, 2005.

The SC ordered the suspension of Andres, saying that as an officer of the court, he must be aware of the procedure provided under the Rules of Court regarding the proper implementation of a writ of replevin and/or an order of seizure.

The SC said Andres “strayed from the regular course” observed in the proper implementation of the orders of the court.

The SC said Andres was negligent and careless in his duties in total disregard of legal procedures that constitute “gross negligence.” – With Edith Regalado