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Friday, September 05, 2003
Cops cocked guns during lineup: NBI
CEBU -- Unless a peacemaker steps in, a conflict threatens to develop between the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 and Cebu City’s police force, days after policemen were herded into a lineup, like suspects, for an NBI probe.
NBI 7 Director Reynaldo Esmeralda said yesterday he found it “unprofessional” that two Cebu City police officers openly cocked their guns during the police lineup last Monday.
Esmeralda said the two officers should not have cocked their guns and unloaded bullets in full view of two NBI agents, who saw the act as “a sort of intimidation and defiance” to the NBI’s request.
At least 22 policemen were asked to join the lineup to verify reports that PO3 Paquito “Ricky” Monterroyo was with other policemen when he allegedly extorted money from a businessman in Lapu-Lapu City last month.
The NBI is conducting the investigation on the policeman, who has posted bail and is now assigned in the office of the CCPO chief.
Director Esmeralda was referring to Chief Insp. Marvin Sanchez, CCPO Vice Control Section (VCS) chief, and Senior Insp. Jonathan Abella, Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) head, when he complained about the incident.
“We did not cock our guns,” Sanchez and Abella said in separate interviews.
“I kept on adjusting my gun because I felt uncomfortable. But I did not pull my gun,” Sanchez said, adding he can produce witnesses in his favor.
Abella said he took out his gun to unload it because he was ordered to do so by Senior Insp. Rex Derilo, whom he knew from their days in the Philippine National Police Academy.
“I just removed the magazine of my gun outside and took the bullet because Sir Derilo ordered me to unload my gun,” Abella explained.
Stay cool
Derilo, CIDG intelligence and operations chief, confirmed he saw Abella unload his service firearm after he (Derilo) advised policemen in the lineup to keep their cool.
Sanchez added they did not defy the NBI, or else they would not have bothered attending the lineup.
Sanchez and Abella refused to comment further.
In an interview after Monday’s police lineup, Sanchez said: “If you refuse the lineup, it’s seen as a sign of guilt. So, we agreed.”
An NBI 7 agent said he saw Sanchez display and cock his gun, and added that the police officer should have done so in private, so his act would not be misconstrued.
The 22 policemen from the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB), Vice Control and Drug Enforcement Unit were subjected to the lineup to check reports that Monterroyo was with other policemen when he allegedly tried to get money from Mino Disomundeg last month.
Disomundeg failed to identify any of the policemen.
This led the NBI 7 to theorize that Monterroyo could have been using his civilian assets, not policemen.
Three more men showed up at the NBI 7 yesterday to report their complaints against Monterroyo.
Be happy
Meanwhile, Esmeralda said the Cebu City Police Office should instead welcome the police lineup because it’s good for the two law enforcement agencies.
First, it cleared the other policemen of any involvement in Monterroyo’s alleged activity.
Second, it helped the NBI 7 look further into the case, he said.
“There’s no reason for them to be demoralized because it is only part of our investigation. They should be happy instead that the lineup cleared their men,” he added.
Esmeralda assured that the NBI 7 will remain impartial and objective in its investigation, and that he “will not allow anyone to use the bureau as an instrument of oppression against fellow officers.”
He lauded CIIB chief Paul Labra II for helping the NBI 7 arrange for the police lineup, which was ordered by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
It isn’t unusual for the police to work with the NBI, which is attached to the justice department, on major cases.
Some tension has surfaced in the past between these agencies, bringing to mind the rivalry that often marked relations between the Philippine Constabulary and the Integrated National Police, both of which are now defunct. GC/MBG of Sun.Star Cebu
(September 5, 2003 issue)
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