We are not a trash bin for erring policemen, ARMM solon says

A lawmaker in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Wednesday criticized the Philippine National Police's move to assign in Marawi City the two Mandaluyong policemen who figured in a viral police brutality video.

"It's quite offensive to treat us like trashbin for abusive cops. And to use the Marawi Seige as a punishment shows insensitivity," Lanao Del Sur Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong said in a tweet.

It's quite offensive to treat us like trashbin for abusive cops. And to use the Marawi Seige as a punishment shows insensitivity.

— Zia Alonto Adiong (@ZeeAlontoAdiong) July 5, 2017

"Erring cops should be sued with administrative case. What they need is to face accountability not temporary punishment," said Adiong, the spokesman for the Marawi City crisis committee.

"Hindi po tayo dito basurahan para sa mga abosado at tiwaling pulis ng Metro Manila," he added.

PO1 Jose Julius Tandog and his buddy PO1 Chito Enriquez have been deployed in strife-torn Marawi City, which is still rocked by clashes between government forces and the ISIS-linked Maute group.

The policemen were caught on video hitting suspects in a minor crime and pointing their guns at them inside a Mandaluyong police station.

PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa doesn't see the deployment of two Mandaluyong policemen to Marawi City as disrespectful to government troops fighting the pro-ISIS Maute Group there.

"Nag-take oath 'yang mga pulis na yan na they can be assigned anywhere in the Philippine archipelago. So wala naman. I don't mean to offend the RPSB (Regional Public Safety Battalion) na totoong  nakikipaglaban doon sa mga Maute, sinampal ko din ba? Hindi naman," Dela Rosa said on Wednesday.

"Pasalamat na lang sila madadagdagan yung pwersa nila doon. We need more personnel sa ground doon sa Marawi, kailangan talaga natin," he added.

Tandog and Enriquez were given until Wednesday to report to the police regional office of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), according to a Balitanghali report on Tuesday.

"Nakita natin na meron talagang grave abuse of authority dito at saka 'yung lumalabas na 'yung police brutality talaga," said National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde.

"So 'yung pag-transfer sa kanila, isang paraan lang no, isang paraan lang para matanggal sila sa comfort zone nila o sphere of influence," he added.

"Probably doon sa lugar na 'yon, pwede rin naman sila maka-recover doon," Albayalde said. —NB, GMA News