Verzosa sacks two cops

Two policemen assigned at the Muntilupa City police were the first casualties in the directive of Philippine National Police chief Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa for all policemen to be human rights-compliant.

Although he has yet to personally watch the fistfight between a suspect and a victim, Verzosa said he directed Metro Manila Police chief Director Jefferson Soriano to look into the liability of Senior Police Officer 4 Ephraim Reyes and another policeman, whose name was not immediately available as of press time.

“I have directed Director Soriano to look into the matter and issue an order assigning the two policemen involved to undergo training at the National Capital Regional Police Office,” Verzosa said in a telephone interview. “The case of Reyes should serve as a warning to all other policemen to observe policies being imposed by the national headquarters.”

Reports had it that Reyes and another law enforcer allegedly failed to stop a victim from engaging a suspect in a fistfight while inside a police station in the presence of cameramen.

Verzosa’s first order after he assumed office Saturday was for police regional and provincial commanders to refrain from its practice of presenting arrested suspects in “firing squad” fashion before the media.

The directive was in respect to the opinion the Commission on Human Rights’ to make the PNP more human-rights friendly by prohibiting the parading of suspects in a “firing squad” style before the public.

Although the memorandum circular will be issued on Monday yet, Verzosa said the basis of the relief was his verbal instruction, which aimed to prevent violation of basic human rights of the arrested suspects while under police custody.

He added that this move was to uphold the “presumption of innocence clause” in the Philippine Constitution.

“Anybody who violates the memorandum circular will be administratively charged,” Verzosa said. “Families and victims who will be proven to have harmed the suspect will also be facing criminal charges.”

Verzosa directed all PNP personnel not to allow complainants or spectators to inflict bodily harm against arrested suspects.

 “Recognizing the paramount duty of the police to respect the dignity of every person as enshrined in the Constitution,” said Verzosa, who warned that PNP personnel who are present when suspects are hit, slapped or boxed by victims or their relatives will be made liable.

It has been observed that some members of the media, particularly photographers and cameramen provoke crime victims into hurting their suspected aggressors to be able to get action photos and videos.