THE Police Regional Office (PRO) in Northern Mindanao has endorsed the administrative complaint against the five policemen accused in the October 23 kidnapping of Enrique Fernandez III before the National Police Commission Wednesday morning, November 23.
PRO Deputy Regional Director for Administration Danilo Lawas Maligalig said this is part of the actions taken by the officials of Northern Mindanao police to administratively hold the policemen liable for their actions.
The five, all former members of the Crime Against Person and Property Desk of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), are Senior Inspector Ereneo Ramirez and his men: Police Officer 3 Alejandro Ubanan, Senior Police Officer 2 Jojo Lim, Senior Police Officer 1 Alaindelon Tacubao, and Police Officer 2 Sangkula Hussein.
Maligalig said Cocpo has no records of any official operation conducted by the five policemen at the time of the October 23 abduction.
“If that was an operation, it was illegitimate,” Maligalig said during the committee hearing called by the provincial board of Misamis Oriental, Wednesday, November 23.
“The police have made its own efforts to locate the victim and assist the family the best way possible. Ang police nga una nakakuha ng CCTV footage kaya lang blurred (The police were the first to retrieve the CCTV footage but it was blurred),” Maligalig added.
The Provincial Board has been alarmed with the alleged kidnapping of Fernandez perpetrated by the five policemen of Cocpo exactly a month ago, prompting them to conduct the committee inquiry.
Vice Governor Joey Pelaez, chairman of the peace and order committee, said even if the incident happened in Cagayan de Oro City, it posed threats on common security and safety and the many shared interests between and among the people of the city and the province.
“We express our outrage at what happened to Mr. Enrique Fernandez III in the hands of the law enforcement personnel themselves,” said Pelaez.
“Many of our constituents are also residents of the city and many of our young people study in various schools in the city. Many of our professionals, businessmen and more others conduct their businesses and own properties in the city. These are the same people who contribute in the development of, and pay their taxes to the city,” Pelaez said.
The committee has called the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation to shed light of the incident and to the extent of the criminal operations of these rogue police official and his men which could possibly include or affect the nearby towns of the province.
Fernandez’s family also appeared in the gallery of the session hall and was in tears after seeing again the CCTV footage played during the hearing.
“We would like to be informed to the actions that are being taken by the agencies involved to address this particular matter and prevent occurrence of crimes perpetrated by the police themselves,” Pelaez said.
Pelaez said the committee hearing aims to come up appropriate recommendations and actions for consideration of President Rodrigo Duterte, PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa and the interior department.
The Provincial Government condemns these illegal activities committed by some members of the PNP organization.
Pelaez said the capitol fully supports the police in its mandate to enforce the law and maintain peace and order.