Calbayog City police intel chief asked court for lawyers info on his own —Eleazar

The Calbayog City Police intelligence unit chief acted on his own when he requested a court to identify the lawyers representing some personalities linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police said.

In a press conference on Monday, PNP officer-in-charge Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar pointed out that there are rules that police should follow in engaging with other government agencies.

“Sa initial investigation ng regional director ay initiative niya lang ‘yun para makakuha ng mga impormasyon at magkaroon siya ng extensive situationer report on insurgency on the area,” he said.

(Based on the initial investigation of the regional director, he made the request on his initiative to gather information and come up with an extensive situationer report on insurgency on the area.)

Eleazar was asked if Calbayog City Police Station intel chief Police Lieutenant Fernando Calabria was instructed to make the request to the court or acted on his own.

On Saturday, Eleazar on Saturday ordered the relief of Calabria. For Eleazar, the action of Calabria was inappropriate.

Due to this, Eleazar said a set of guidelines for police officers engaging with other government agencies will be distributed to PNP personnel to avoid similar incidents.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Saturday called the action of the intelligence chief "improper, deplorable, and alarming."

"Lawyers, therefore, should not be suspected, discriminated against, faulted, red-tagged, or attacked for doing their professional duty," it said. —KG, GMA News