De Lima pushes for PNP reforms after Atimonan rubout

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has recommended reforms in the manner the Philippine National Police (PNP) is conducting criminal investigation following “disturbing findings” of a cover-up in the alleged rubout of 13 suspected criminals in Atimonan, Quezon.

De Lima said she has submitted a confidential memorandum to President Aquino recommending policy reforms on the PNP’s operations and handling of conduct of probe of crimes, especially in cases of an independent probe by another body like the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“The PNP, and perhaps also the military, should come up with a clear system on use of firearms,” she said.

De Lima admitted that the lack of an efficient system in handling firearms used in PNP missions and operations limited the investigation of the NBI into the killing of alleged jueteng operator Vic Siman and 12 others by a team of police and military agents led by Superintendent Hansel Marantan.

She revealed that the police did not surrender the firearms used in the operation and instead submitted a different set of firearms.

“A system should be created that will preclude optional surrender of firearms covered by the investigation and also provide for command responsibility. This should be severely dealt with,” she proposed.

De Lima recalled that this has been the perennial problem in cases involving alleged human rights violations against the PNP since she was still chair of Commission on Human Rights.

She also suggested to Congress to pass a law for mandatory autopsy of suspected victims of crimes, citing refusal of some families to cooperate with authorities, thus leading to a limited probe.

The NBI was set to file yesterday with the Department of Justice multiple murder charges against Marantan and others. But the filing was deferred to next week since the complaint was not yet completed yesterday.

Aside from Marantan, also to be charged are former Region IV-A police director Chief Superintendent James Andres Melad, Senior Inspector John Paolo Carracedo, Senior Police Officer 1 Arturo Sarmiento, Superintendent Ramon Balauag, Senior Inspector Timoteo Orig, Senior Police Officer 3 Joselito De Guzman, Senior Police Officer 1 Carlo Cataquiz, Police Officer 3 Eduardo Oronan, PO2 Nelson Indal, PO2 Al Bhazar Jailani, PO1 Wryan Sardea, PO1 Rodel Talento, PCI Grant Gollod, Inspectors Ferdinand Aguilar, Evaristo San Juan, PO3 Benedict Dimayuga, PO2 Ronnie Serdena, PO1 Esperidion Corpuz Jr., PO1 Bernie De Leon and PO1 Allen Ayubo.

Also in the list are Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel Lieutenant Colonel Monico Abang, the Battalion Commander, Captain Erwin Macalinao, 1Lieutenant Rico Tagure, Technical Sergeant Melanio Balauitan, Cpl. Clark Magusara, Private First Class Michael Franco, PFC Kirby-Tam Coronel, PFC Alvin Roque Pabon, PFC Ricky Jay Borja, PFC Melvin Lumalang, PFC Gil Gallego, Private Marc Zaldy Docdoc, Pvt. Emergin Barrete and Pvt. Michard Manago.