DOJ to probe use of minor by Caloocan cops in raid

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday called for an investigation against 13 members of the Caloocan City police who brought along a minor on September 7 to a house they raided without a search warrant.

Aguirre directed the DOJ Task Force on Child Protection to "thoroughly investigate" the alleged abuse of the minor.

"Part of my directive is for the DOJ Task Force to file the necessary charges against the responsible persons who have committed any act which is tantamount to child abuse," he said.

"Evidently, any act which inflicts physical or psychological injury, cruelty to or the neglect, sexual abuse of, or which exploits, a child is child abuse. Cases of child abuse should be punished to the full extent of the law."

Aguirre also tasked the National Bureau of Investigation to probe and conduct a case build-up on the matter.

CCTV footage showed policemen, along with a supposed asset, entered the residence of a 51-year-old woman with a minor.

One of the police officers can be seen picking up and putting back items, including a watch and a cellphone.

The child is later seen holding up the items to another police officer and pocketing them, with the officer holding up a finger to his lips in what seemed a sign to the child to keep quiet.

It was only after seeing the CCTV footage of the incident that the family discovered the theft: a cellphone, a wallet, and two watches with a total value of P30,000 were carted away.

Days after the raid on the woman's house at Barrio Sta. Rita in Barangay 188, Tala, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde ordered the relief of the 1,200-strong Caloocan City police.

Only newly-assigned Caloocan City police chief Senior Superintendent Jemar Modequillo and Deputy Chief for Administration Chief Inspector Ilustre Mendoza were retained by Albayalde.

The 14 policemen involved in the illegal raid had been placed under restrictive custody.

The incident happened as the Caloocan police force is embroiled in the controversial killings of teenagers Kian Loyd delos Santos and Carl Angelo Arnaiz. —ALG/RSJ, GMA News