Acorda calls for pre-ops briefing amid Navotas, Imus incidents

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. has directed field commanders to conduct briefings before actual police operations following recent incidents involving cops.

Interviewed on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said the PNP does not condone the cops' actions in the incidents in Navotas City and Imus, Cavite.

“Kaya nga no less than the Chief PNP has directed ang ating mga field commanders na dapat SOP ito na bago mag-conduct ng any form of police operation ay dapat may briefing yung mga team leaders,” she said.

(That is why no less than the PNP chief has directed field commanders to impose an SOP that team leaders should conduct briefings before any police operations.)

“Yung mga do's and don'ts na dapat ginagawa natin sa planned operations like buy-bust operation ay dapat nasusunod (We should follow the do's and don'ts during planned operations like buy bust operations),” she added.

On August 2, 17-year-old boy Jemboy Baltazar was on his way to fish when he was shot and killed by Navotas City policemen in Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran.

The cops had mistaken the teenager for a suspect in a fatal shooting incident during the follow up operation.

According to the PNP, there were lapses in the operation.

Meanwhile, in Imus, Cavite, nine police officers allegedly looted the house of 67-year-old Rebecca Caoile, a former professor, in Barangay Alapan 1-A during a buy-bust operation.

In a CCTV footage, the cops were seen carrying some items from the house including a tire and a motorcycle rim. Caoile's son said the cops also robbed his savings worth P80,000, his laptop, and tools. 

The chief of police of Imus, Cavite was subsequently relieved from his post after a video of the nine police officers ransacking the residence of a drug suspect went viral on social media. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News