Espina reinstates QCPD station chief

MANILA, Philippines - National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leonardo Espina reinstated yesterday a Quezon City Police District (QCPD) station commander, who was relieved from his post following allegations by drug suspects questioning their arrest.

Superintendent Norberto Babagay is back as commander of the QCPD Station 11 in Galas after Espina ruled that he neither neglected his duty nor violated police operational procedure.

In separate order, Senior Superintendent Dennis Jurilla Pena, chief of the NCRPO’s directorial staff, said the case against Babagay was “dropped and closed for lack of probable cause.”

It stemmed from a complaint by Manila barangay chairman Eduardo Torcelino, who claimed they were illegally arrested as the drug evidence was supposedly planted and that the policemen extorted money from them.

Torcelino and Herminigildo Patdu, 59, a businessman from Muntinlupa, were arrested on Oct. 5 for alleged possession of 30 grams of shabu.

According to Babagay, Police Officers 2 Wilberto Blanco and William Blanco chanced upon the two suspects reportedly arguing in front of a fastfood restaurant at the Mabuhay Rotunda. The barangay chairman was allegedly seen handing over a package to Patdu while another package remained with him, he said.

Babagay said the contents of the two sealed packs turned out to be shabu. He earlier said the case against the two suspects had been recommended for further investigation by the city fiscal, resulting in the release of the two suspects from detention. Babagay then asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review the case.

“Babagay, upon knowing the reversal of the previous recommendation issued by the Quezon City prosecutor’s office has filed a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Secretary of the (DOJ)... Therefore he should not be held accountable for neglect of duty, under the doctrine of command responsibility,” Espina’s resolution stated.

The same resolution recommended that an administrative case for grave misconduct be filed against the two police officers “to give them the opportunity to adduce evidence and articulate their defense.”