Demotion, suspension recommended vs. cops in Espinosa slay

Demotion and suspension have been recommended for the 19 policemen accused of killing Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa and another detainee in November last year, police officials said Monday.

At a press briefing, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said he has already signed the report prepared by the PNP's Internal Affairs Service (IAS) on its investigation on the case. 

"Napirmahan ko na 'yan," Dela Rosa said, without divulging the result of the investigation, saying he does not have the document with him at that time.

"Mahirap magkamali ako kung sino ang na-demote, sino suspended, sino dismissed," he added.

The policemen, led by Supt. Marvin Marcos, are facing charges for killing Espinosa and another detainee inside their detention cell in November last year during a late-night serving of a search order.

Can't be implemented yet

But despite Dela Rosa's signature, Chief Supt Rene Aspera, director of PNP Directorate for Personnel and Resource Management, said they cannot implement the decision yet. 

"On the case of Marcos et. al., we received the copy from IAS (Internal Affairs Service) for implementation. Before that, we need to serve the proof of service to the concerned personnel," he said in a separate press conference.

He said the suspects can still file a motion for reconsideration and they need to resolve it first as part of due process.

"If they file a motion for reconsideration, i-resolve muna 'yun before our implementation. Mahirap na baka balikan tayo ng mga tao," he said.

Aspera added: "Iniingatan natin na we will not be subject to the case that they will file, in case na mag-file sila ng motion, in case na na-implement natin agad. So resolution muna ng motion for reconsideration nila bago tayo mag-implement ng recommendation ng IAS."

Demotion, suspension

He added that as far as he is concerned, the recommendations were demotion and suspension, as IAS wa still resolving the case regarding the supposed dismissal.

"Mayroon tayo sa case ni Marcos na demotion and suspension. Mayroon kasing nire-resolve pa 'yung ating IAS for this case, but the folder we received is only demotion and suspension," he said.

Dela Rosa said during the press conference that he will stand by the decision of IAS amid the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte that he will pardon policemen involved in the killing of Espinosa. 

Espinosa, a suspected drug lord, was killed by a team of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives during the serving of search warrant at the Baybay City Sub-Provincial Jail in Leyte.

The CIDG team said they shot Espinosa after he fired at them first.

Marcos and the 18 other policemen have been ordered arrested by Baybay Regional Trial Court Judge Carlos Arguelles for multiple murder, robbery, malicious procurement of search warrant, perjury and planting of evidence under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

They are now detained at the CIDG-8 custodial facility in Leyte. —KBK, GMA News