Ombudsman junks raps vs 32 cops in Luisita melee

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — The Ombudsman for the military and other law enforcement offices has junked the criminal cases which the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) filed against 32 policemen implicated in the deaths of seven workers at the Central Azucarera de Tarlac during a violent dispersal on Nov. 16 last year.

In a resolution, Orlando Casimiro, deputy Ombudsman for the military and other law enforcement offices, however, asked the CIDG to forward the records of the case to the National Bureau of Investigation for an exhaustive probe of the incident "for a clear-cut identification of the specific individuals to be held liable."

Eight of the 32 policemen are from the Bulacan police, four from the Regional Mobile Group, six each from the Aurora and Bataan police, and the rest from other units.

In a separate resolution, graft investigation and prosecution officer Gilbert Bueno said the complaint against the 32 lawmen was not sufficient in form and substance, saying ballistic tests should have also been done, not only paraffin tests. — Ric Sapnu