DAVAO CITY -- The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered a 60-day preventive suspension of 26 high-ranking police officials assigned in Davao Region from 2005 to 2008.
Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Francis Euston Acero suspended Senior Superintendent Catalino Cuy, former city director (2005-2007); Senior Superintendent Jaime Morente, city director (2008); Chief Inspector Matthew Baccay; Chief Inspector Filmore Escobal; Chief Inspector Leandro Felonia; Chief Inspector Marvin Manuel Pepino; Chief Inspector Ranulfo Cabañog; Chief Inspector Vicente Danao; Senior Inspector Rebecca Climacosa; Superintendent Harry Espela; Chief Inspector Napoleon Eguia; Superintendent Rommil Mitra; Inspector Maximo Atuel; Senior Inspector Arnulfo Mahinay; Chief Inspector Romeo Morandante; Chief Inspector Alden Delvo; Chief Inspector Joseph Sepulchre; Senior Inspector Leonardo Viduya; Senior Inspector Yolando Bello; Inspector Rolly Tropico; Chief Inspector Dionisio Abude; Senior Inspector Antonio Alberio Jr.; Chief Inspector Juel Neil Salcedo; Superintendent Michael John Dubria; Chief Inspector Joselito Loriza; and Chief Inspector Joel Neil Rojo.
The suspension stemmed from a complaint filed before the Office of the Tanodbayan (predecessor of the Ombudsman) against the 26 officials by a group called "Davao City Deserves Good Governance Movement."
In a 14-page decision, the officials were questioned for their alleged involvement on the unresolved killings in their respective areas of responsibility.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao Public Information Officer Querubin Manalang said the 26 officials will still continue to work on their assignments while waiting for the issuance of the suspension order from Camp Crame.
"Yung nasa amin na decision ay galing pa sa Ombudsman and tuloy-tuloy pa rin sila sa trabaho kung wala pang order galing sa crame, (The decision we have is from the Ombudsman and they will continue to work if there's still no order from crame)," Manalang told Sun.Star Davao.
He said the suspension is not a penalty of the case filed against the officials but a move to stop from meddling in the case.
"The case is still ongoing and under the law (Section 24 of the Ombudsman Act of 1995), they will be suspended if the case falls on neglect on the performance of duty," Manalang said.
Manalang, however, refused to speculate if politics is behind the said decision received by the Chief of the Philippine National Police last April 16. (Rhodamae M. Hernandez of Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)