POLICE Superintendent Marvin Marcos, who was among those tagged in the killing of Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., was “eligible” to return in service, Malacañang said on Thursday.
A day after President Rodrigo Duterte mulled to reinstate Marcos after his murder case was downgraded to homicide, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the Chief Executive “respects and abides by the rule of law.”
“The President respects and abides by the rule of law. Police Superintendent has served his suspension and is eligible to be be back to duty,” Abella said in a statement.
The President, in a speech delivered Wednesday at the 26th anniversary celebration of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, said he wanted Marcos to be back in the police service and stressed that he is ready to grant pardon to the suspended cop, if the court finds him guilty on criminal charges against him.
Espinosa died on November 5, 2016 when Marcos, along with 18 other members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) - Eastern Visayas, conducted a search warrant against the mayor for alleged possession of firearms.
Marcos and his team were released in prison last month after the Baybay City Regional Trial Court Branch 14 granted their plea to downgrade charges against them.
Duterte’s pronouncement was favored by Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, saying that the administrative case against Marcos and his team had already been resolved in their favor.
The other 18 policemen charged with homicide were Superintendent Santi Noel Matira; Chief Inspector Leo Larraga; Senior Inspectors Fritz Blanco and Deogracias Diaz; Inspector Lucredito Candilosas; Senior Police Officers (SPO) 4 Melvin Cayubit and Juanito Duarte; SPO2 Benjamin Dacallos and Antonio Docil; SPO1 Mark Christian Cadilo; Police Officers (PO) 3 Norman Abellanosa and Johnny Ibañez; PO2 John Ruel Doculan and Jaime Dascal; and PO1 Lloyd Ortigueza, Bhernard Orpilla, Jerlans Cabiyaan and Clixto Canillas Jr.
Abella echoed Dela Rosa’s statement that the administrative cases against the CIDG- Eastern Visayas team had already been resolved but acknowledged that it could still be appealed to the National Police Commission.
“We leave the matter to the Philippine National Police – Internal Affairs Service to explain its decision. The case, however, maybe appealed to the National Police Commission,” he said.
CIDG director Roel Obusan said Marcos would be assigned as the new head of CIDG in Soccksargen while 18 others would also be reinstated. (SunStar Philippines)