STARTING on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOrPPO) had considered Police Corporal Roger Rubio “absent without leave” after he was tagged as one of the gunmen who ambushed Dumaguete City-based blocktimer Dindo Generoso.
Police Colonel Julian Entoma, NOrPPO director, said that since Generoso was gunned down last Thursday, Nov. 7, Rubio had not reported to his assignment at the Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC).
Rubio is currently the subject of a manhunt operation.
Entoma said his men are checking his friends and relatives in case they are harboring him. He said he also asked Rubio’s commanding officer to issue an order to return to work, but Rubio never showed.
On Monday, Nov. 11, Rubio’s name will be removed from Philippine National Police’s roster. As a result, he will no longer be entitled to his salary and benefits.
Entoma said they will also file murder and administrative charges against Rubio.
Since Rubio still has his service firearm, he can also be charged with illegal possession of firearms if he does not turned it over to NOrPPO, Entoma added.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office 7 Director Police Brigadier Gen. Valeriano de Leon ordered the NOrPPO to extend its manhunt operation and to coordinate with other unit to successfully located Rubio.
“The focus now of the ongoing investigation is to identify the mastermind. And believe me, we will get the culprit to justice,” de Leon said.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippine (NUJP) commended the NOrPPO for the swift apprehension of two of the three suspects in Generoso’s murder.
In a statement, NUJP urged local police to immediately arrest Rubio and give justice to Generoso’s death.
“With the speed with which the Negros Oriental police have acted, we are hoping that Rubio will also be caught soon and Generoso granted the justice his death deserves,” the statement said.
Following Generoso’s death, police arrested Teddy Reyes, 44, and Police Corporal Glenn Corsame for their alleged involvement in the broadcaster’s death.
The two were the ones who pointed to Rubio as the one who gunned down Generoso. AYB / JKV