MANILA: The policemen involved in the killing of 13 men in an alleged shootout in Quezon province last Sunday have been restricted to barracks and their officers relieved of their posts.
Ordered relieved were Quezon police provincial office director Senior Superintendent Valeriano de Leon, his intelligence officer Superintendent Ramon Balauag, Atimonan police head Chief Inspector Grant Gollod, and Calabarzon Regional Intelligence Division chief Superintendent Hansel Marantan. The order, issued by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima, did not name the policemen who are non-commissioned or with the ranks of police officer 1 up to special police officer 4.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the relief order would ensure the officers would be available when summoned in the course of the investigation. Roxas said the officers have been summoned to report to the Police Holding and Administrative Unit at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“All other policemen that were a part of the operation are deemed in restricted custody at the provincial quarters.” By restricted, Roxas meant they would not be allowed to go out of Camp Vicente Lim in Region 4 as recommended by the PNP fact-finding body led by Chief Superintendent Federico Castro.
Purisima, meanwhile, admitted there were clear violations of police operational procedures in the setting up of the checkpoint on Maharlika Highway in Atimonan, Quezon where the alleged shootout took place.
“Actually, police operational procedure was not followed. Police vehicles should be marked and the policemen should be in uniform and not in civilian dress. Based on the facts stated, there was violation of police operational procedures on the conduct of checkpoints,” he said. Purisima said Marantan may have to deal with a separate administrative case, saying that intelligence men are tasked to gather information and not man checkpoints.
Purisima, however, said they would check reports that the policemen had to hurriedly set up the checkpoint after receiving information regarding the presence of armed men in the area.
The Philippine star
