Solon calls for investigation of absentee police witnesses

Sen. Renato "Compañero" Cayetano called yesterday for a Senate investigation into the alleged failure of police witnesses to appear in the drug trial of five Chinese chemists, causing the court to grant them bail.

Cayetano said a Senate probe is necessary because the National Police Commission has already directed the mandatory appearance of police officers in trials and investigations when properly notified and subpoenaed. He noted reports that PNP personnel led by Chief Inspector Napoleon Villegas failed to attend three hearings of the case of the five Chinese chemists arrested in a makeshift shabu laboratory in Pasig City. Seized in the police raid were six kilos of shabu and several drums of chemicals for the manufacture of illegal drugs.

Judge Rodrigo Lorenzo of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court granted bail to Chinese nationals Chua Chuy Li, Xing Fu Wang, Joey Lu Cruz, Huang Hong Wei and Tomas Lu following the non-appearance of Villegas and his men.

"There are several cases wherein those accused of heinous crimes have been acquitted because of the non-apperance of police officers in court proceedings or investigations. The law must be imposed on erring police officials for their failure to attend!" Cayetano stressed. He, likewise, revealed that superior officers could also be held liable.

"If the non-appearance of a PNP member in a heairng or investigation was due to the failure of the administrative or personnel officer to serve the subpoena or notice, the latter shall be held accountable for neglect of duty," Cayetano said.

The Napolcom circular classifies as a grave administrative offense any willful and unjustifiable non-appearance of a PNP member before the court, prosecutor’s office or officer authorized by law to hear cases.

Cayetano said that the Napolcom issued the guidelines because the non-appearance of police officers in hearings and investigations adversely affects the speedy and proper disposition of cases.