4 cops face admin, criminal cases

CEBU, Philippines — Four police officers of Carmen Police Station are facing criminal and administrative charges because of the death of the subject of a buy bust operation on July 18.

The police officers are identified as PO2 Cristito Aresco, PO2 Everett Capuyan, PO2 Gleann Molina and Chief Insp. Christian Torres.

The police officers were reportedly responsible in the death of Reymark Taoy Quingco who was mistaken for Joseph Taoy,  an alleged drug pusher of the said town.

Quingco was one of the six casualties during the One Time Big Time operation of the police last July 18.

“Among the charges are murder, falsification, dereliction of duty,” Atty.Dominador Cimafranca, Regional Director of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 told The FREEMAN.

Although Torres was not present during the operation, he was charged because of command responsibility.

A certain Jonathan, a helper of Carmen Police station, was also included in the case because he was allegedly the one who identified Quingco as Taoy.

The NBI recently conducted a thorough investigation on the case after the family sought help from them.

They have gathered six witnesses and closed circuit television (CCTV) footage showed that there was no buy bust operation.

Cimafranca did not comment on the statement of Police Senior Supt. Manuel Javier Abrugena that the case is just harassment.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 expressed their support for the involved Carmen Police Officers.

Police Supt. Reyman Tolentin, Public Information Officer of PRO 7 said they will stand by the pronouncement of Carmen policemen that it was a legitimate operation.

“If there is a direct cases filed against them, so be it. Dili ta malisang ana nga kaso because if you will be scared sa kaso then dili na motrabaho ang atong polis,” Tolentin said.

He added that the regional office will not make an internal investigation on the matter unless Abrugena asks for it. (FREEMAN)