Dismissal proceedings ready vs cops over ‘wheel of torture’

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines   â€” The Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) police is ready to start the summary dismissal proceedings against the 12 police officers of Laguna, including the provincial police director and the head of the intelligence division, over the “wheel of torture” scandal, officials said yesterday.

“The summary proceedings is all set, the Discipline, Law and Order Service (DLOS), which is under the Regional Personnel Division-4A, has designated Superintendent Edwin Wagan as the hearing police officer,” said Senior Superintendent Rolando Opeña, chief of the regional police human resource and personnel division.

Opeña said Wagan, a former chief of police of Santa Rosa and now deputy provincial director for operation, would set the venue and the schedule of the marathon hearing for the administrative case filed against Chief Inspector Arnold Formento, head of the provincial police intelligence branch, and nine of his men — Senior Police Officer 2 Bernardino Artisen; Senior Police Officer 1 Alexander Asis; Police Officers 2 Freddie Ramos, Mark Julius Caesar, Mateo Cailo, Renan Galang, Aldwin Tibuc and Melmar Viray; and Police Officer 1 Nelson Caribo.

He said the Regional Internal Affairs Service-4A will conduct the probe for the administrative cases filed against Senior Superintendent Pascual Muñoz, Laguna police director, and Superintendent Kirby John Kraft, chief of the provincial intelligence unit.

“Muñoz and Kraft were sacked from their posts due to command responsibility and they are also facing administrative charges,” Opeña said.

He said the police officials were detailed at the Regional Police Unit holding center while the 10 other officers were placed under restrictive custody at the Provincial Public and Safety Command-4A at this camp to ensure their availability for the hearing.

The Regional Investigation Division-4A recommended the filing of administrative charges after the pre-charge investigation body found probable cause against the police officers accused of torturing inmates at a police holding facility in Biñan.

Chief Superintendent Jesus Gatchalian, Calabarzon police director, said the summary dismissal proceedings would be completed within one to two months.