Albuera cop chief, 9 others relieved

Over viral video of armed civilian in police operation

MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the Albuera police in Leyte and his nine subordinates have been relieved from their posts for allegedly allowing an armed civilian to join a police operation on Wednesday.

The relief of Maj. Franklin Romeo Parangan Jr. and his men stemmed from a viral video showing a group of armed men pulling over a truck in Barangay Benulho.

Reports said the armed men are police officers who launched a border control operation following information about a supposed assassination plot against Albuera Mayor Kerwin Espinosa.

Parangan was replaced by Lt. Jefrey Banquilay, who assumed as officer-in-charge of the police station, according to an order issued by Eastern Visayas police director Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy.

“Pending investigation, police officers assigned at the border control checkpoint are relieved from their posts, while appropriate administrative action is recommended for the chief of the Albuera police,” Capoy said in a statement.

Capoy said the armed men were members of a composite team of the local police intelligence unit as well as uniformed officers.

Although the operation was legitimate, Capoy said he received information that an armed civilian was allegedly spotted joining the officers during the police operation.

He said the civilian is an employee of the municipal government.

“If the civilian is found to be carrying a firearm, he can be arrested and investigated,” Capoy said.