5 cops involved in missing e-sabong agent dismissed from service, says PNP spox

Five members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who are allegedly involved in the disappearance of an e-sabong agent in Laguna have been dismissed from the service.

According to Mark Makalalad’s report on Super Radyo dzBB, these are Police Staff Sergeant Daryl Paghangaan, Patrolman Roy Navarete, Patrolman Rigel Brosas, Police Lieutenant Henry Sasaluya, and Police Master Sergeant Michael Claveria.

This was announced by PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo in an ambush interview.

“Napirmahan na ‘yung dismissal case nila, I think, last week (their dismissal case was signed last week),” Fajardo said.

“Kailangan lang po talaga maipareceive sa kanila officially para at least they will be given the opportunity, as part of due process, to appeal yung recommended penalty sa kanila,” he added.

(But they need to receive it officially so they will be given the opportunity, as part of the due process, to appeal the recommended penalty against them.)

On Monday, the Department of Justice announced that it will file charges against Paghangaan, Navarete, and Brosas for the robbery and kidnapping of e-sabong agent Ricardo Lasco.

The DOJ said the complaints against Sasaluya and Claveria were dismissed due to lack of probable cause.

However, Fajardo said an administrative case for grave misconduct was filed against Sasaluya and Claveria. He said they were dismissed from service as the evidence against these officers was strong.

“Although doon sa nirekomenda na kaso ng DOJ ay 3 lamang po ‘yung nahanapan ng probable cause and corresponding information will be filed against these 3, but ‘yung five na-involve dito ay nakitaan ng substantial evidence doon sa kanilang admin case at ang recommendation sa kanila ay dismissal from service,” he said.

(Although the DOJ only found probable cause against 3 and corresponding information will be filed against these 3, we found substantial evidence for the five here for their admin case and the recommendation for them is dismissal from service.) — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News