“P— INA:” Reinstatement of Marvin Marcos irks Ping Lacson

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday condemned President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to reinstate Superintendent Marvin Marcos, one of the police officials accused of homicide in connection with the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

In a text statement to reporters, Lacson even cursed in reaction to the issue.

“It is not even a reinstatement. Rather, it was back-to-duty status after serving his four-month suspension order incorporated in a ‘slap-on-the-wrist’ administrative penalty,” pointed out Lacson, a former chief of the Philippine National Police.

The decision, he said, argued that Marcos was not physically present when his team at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 8 (CIDG-8) supposedly attempted to serve a search warrant on Espinosa while he was inside his prison cell.

“According to the decision, Marcos was not physically present when the raiding team killed Espinosa and Raul Yap, but outside supervising the operation. The others were given demotions and 6-month suspension. This effectively disregarded the conspiracy angle,” Lacson said.

“In sum, there is a phrase to describe this whole damn thing: P— Ina!” he added.

Lacson is the chairperson of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs which concluded that the death of Espinosa was “premeditated.”

Espinosa and another inmate, Raul Yap, were shot dead after they allegedly drew guns to fire at the raiding party while it was in the act of serving search warrants inside the Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail in Baybay City on November 5.

It was not explained how they were supposedly able to sneak in the guns into their prison cell.

Marcos and his men were earlier charged with murder, but it was downgraded by the Justice Department to homicide, allowing them to walk out of detention on bail.

Earlier reports have it that Marcos will now head the CIDG Region 12, while his men will be deployed either to the same region or in CIDG Region 7.

On Wednesday, Duterte said he wants Marcos reinstated despite the criminal charges he is facing. He also reiterated that he will pardon Marcos, if and when, he is convicted. 

‘Culture of impunity’

In a separate statement, Senator Grace Poe also questioned the reinstatement of Marcos, saying the move will “encourage a culture of impunity” in the police force.

“His reinstatement to active duty may further tarnish the PNP as an institution that should value and uphold the rule of law in the performance of duty,” Poe said.

“Such reinstatement may just encourage a culture of impunity among the ranks. The PNP could very well carry out its duties in protecting our people  somebody like Marcos and his cohorts,” she added.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, called on the PNP leadership to “hold” any action on the status of Marcos and his men, whom he referred to as “scalawags.”

“It would be prudent on the PNP to hold whatever action they are thinking, pending itong parang opinion or outcry sa Senado,” he said in an interview.

“Pag nag-reinstate sila, baka mas marami pang hindi magandang magawa itong mga ‘to. I consider them scalawags. Dapat nga wala sila sa pwersa natin,” Gatchalian said, adding that the decision will likely “demoralize” other cops.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, for her part, said Duterte’s order is “damning proof” that the killings are “state-sanctioned.”

"This is outright obstruction of justice from the highest level of governance and Executive promotion of extrajudicial killings,” she said.

Hontiveros also hit PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa for supporting the reinstatement order as "it would be a waste anyway" not to let Marcos and his men work.

"I expect better thinking from the PNP chief. We let a murderer have a free pass and go back to the uniformed service because his suspension is a waste of money?” Hontiveros said. — RSJ/KVD, GMA News