Sanction vs QC cops questioned

Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Mike Defensor appealed yesterday to the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to reconsider its decision to suspend seven policemen from Quezon City for their campaign against professional squatting.

"The suspension of the policemen sends a different message. What these cops did is consistent with what the President instructed us to do – to apprehend and prosecute professional squatters and squatting syndicates. Why punish them?"

Defensor said that he would personally talk to Local Government Secretary and concurrent Napolcom chief Joey Lina to ensure that the policemen will be given due process.

The policemen were suspended for three months by the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO), following the demolition of squatter shanties in North Fairview, Quezon City.

The demolition was carried out upon the orders of Central Police District director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Tor and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

The seven policemen were identified as Superintendent Valentin Santacera, chief of the Lagro Police Station; Chief Inspector Eddie Arajil, SPO2s Romeo Pascual and Pedro Bernabe; SPO1 Rolando Cristobal; and PO2s Edgar Lopez and James Bugho.

"They deserve commendation for their sense of duty… not suspension," Defensor said.

In a related development, Defensor, along with Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) chairman Percival Chavez and representatives from the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), disarmed some 40 personnel of Arnoh Detective Investigation and Security Agency and Bright Future Security Agency illegally occupying the property of TRB in Calang-Calangan, San Dionisio, Parañaque City.

The property is being claimed by another squatting syndicate led by a certain Henry Rodriguez.

"Many poor families are the hapless victims of these syndicates."

Defensor said the President Arroyo is set to sign an executive order creating a national task force on professional squatters and squatting syndicates.

The task force, to be headed by HUDCC, will "hopefully have more teeth in apprehending and prosecuting professional squatting syndicates because of closer coordination among concerned agencies."