Go after group involved in shooting incidents, Bato orders new Caloocan police chief

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa has ordered the newly-installed chief of the Caloocan City police force to run after a criminal group supposedly involved in the shooting incidents in the area.

"Meron talagang grupo diyan na malapit na mahuli rin 'yan, ma-engkwentro din ng pulis 'yan na mahilig mamaril ng mga pusher or kahit hindi pusher, pinagtripan or igu-gun-for-hire itong mga ga-- na grupo na 'to that caused the relief of the chief," Dela Rosa told reporters Tuesday.

"So itong bagong commander ngayon, kailangan ma-identify niya kung sino, sige ipabaril niya sa mga pulis diyan dahil if you don't do drastic action about it, ang publiko, lalong lalo na kayo mga taga-media, isipin ninyo na yan ay [kagagawan] ng pulis, na 'yan ay tino-tolerate ng pulis or 'yan ay inuutos ng pulis kaya hindi mahuli-huli," he added.

The country's top cop issued the order after he was asked to comment on whether there would be more commanders who will be relieved from their posts following the relief of former Caloocan City police chief Senior Superintendent Jemar Modequillo and two district commanders of Manila Police District Station 11 and Quezon City Police District Station 10.

Senior Superintendent Restituto Arcangel was assigned as the officer-in-charge of the Caloocan City Police.

Although Dela Rosa praised Modequillo, he said the latter was removed from his post as they were "expecting so much" from him. Modequillo was relieved from his post over the series of "unsolved shooting incidents" in his area.

"Kaya natanggal yung chief of police dahil merong bumabaril ng tao diyan na hindi mahuli-huli...Kailangan may command responsibility ka over your area. Kahit gaano kagaling, I'm sad to say napakagaling na opisyal ni Modequillo at humahanga ako doon," Dela Rosa said.

"But sinasabi nga natin kahit magaling ka, 'pag minalas ka just like general [Roberto] Fajardo sa Northern Police District noon minalas siya, he has to face the consequences of kamalasan so tanggap naman nila na doon talaga minalas," he added.

In August last year, Dela Rosa ordered the administrative relief of former Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Roberto Fajardo for command responsibility over the death of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos during an alleged drug operation in Caloocan City.

The PNP chief said the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management has a "score card" to track the number of shooting incidents in Caloocan City.

"Meron kaming score card, si DIDM may hawak ng score card, kung ilan naman ang mamatay diyan sa Caloocan na binabaril nitong mga grupo na namamaril diyan tapos walang mahuhuli then maybe he will be relieved din," Dela Rosa said.

"More than one [shooting incident case] is alarming for me, lalong lalo na at i-a-attribute sa amin. It hurts na pagbintangan na hindi mo kagagawan kaya we have to do something about it," he added. — RSJ, GMA News