PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Officer-in-Charge Lieutenant General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar ordered Saturday, March 13, the relief of Calbayog police intelligence chief Lieutenant Fernando Calabria Jr.
The relief came after Calabria asked the Calbayog City Regional Trial Court to submit a list of lawyers who are representing allegedly members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG).
Calabria, in his letter to the court dated March 12, said the request "pertains to the compliance from higher PNP offices regarding lawyers who represent CTG personalities in court."
But Eleazar, in a statement Saturday, March 13, said “the PNP top brass did not issue any order pertaining to that, and will never tolerate such unprofessional method of information-gathering.”
He said based on investigation, Calabria wrote the letter as “part of his effort to come up with a comprehensive report on the communist insurgency situation in his area of responsibility, which is Calbayog City.”
“The pressure of crafting a detailed report apparently took a toll on him and eventually prompted him to commit a serious breach of policy,” Eleazar said.
With the incident, Eleazar said he directed Calabria’s relief as chief of the intelligence unit of the Calbayog City Police Station also in consultation with PNP Chief Debold Sinas, who has been on isolation as he tested positive for coronavirus.
Eleazar added that the PNP is also checking if there were similar actions in other areas and they will determine up to what level of police hierarchy is involved in the incident.
He also apologized for Calabria’s action, which he considers a “reckless behavior.”
“We fully understand the sentiments of the members of the legal community and for this, I, on behalf of the men and women of the Philippine National Police, sincerely apologize for this reckless behavior,” the police OIC said.
He assured the judiciary and members of the legal community that “it is not and will never be the policy of the Philippine National Police to run after or even inflict harm on lawyers and members of the judiciary while performing their sworn duty.”
“As both pillars of the Philippine justice system, the PNP and the judiciary have been in good working relationship to defend democracy and maintain peace and order in the country. We intend to keep it that way,” Eleazar said.
He also assured that the incident involving Calabria “will not in any way affect the PNP’s full support and commitment in achieving our common interest of putting an end to communist insurgency problem.”
“While we in the PNP remain steadfast in the campaign against communist insurgency, we will not condone any irresponsible and unprofessional act of any of our men in accomplishing that goal,” he added.
Calabria’s request to the court came just days after Calbayog City Mayor Ronald Aquino was killed in an ambush. Some members of the PNP were involved in the incident.
READ: Ambush or shootout? NBI to probe incident that killed mayor, 4 cops
The PNP said earlier that the incident involving the mayor was a shootout, not an ambush, and the policemen were in the area and carrying high-powered firearms due to the “critical presence” of communist rebels in Calbayog City. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)