Rizal, Cainta police chiefs relieved over slay of ex-solon’s body guard

The highest ranking police officials of Rizal and Cainta police and 10 other policemen have been relieved from their posts over the death of Richard Santillan, a security aide of former Biliran Representative Glenn Chiong.

Calabarzon Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza told DZBB that he ordered on Wednesday the administrative relief of Rizal provincial director Senior Superintendent Lou Evangelista and Cainta chief of police Superintendent Pablito Naganag.

Ten members of the Regional Intelligence Division-Rizal Team were also removed from theie assigments.

Carranza said the operation against Santillan was legitimate but the PNP wanted to know if the police conducted the operation properly.

Senior Superintendent Dionisio Bartolome will serve as officer-in-charge of the Rizal police while Superintendent Gauvin Unos will be the OIC of the Cainta police, Superintendent Audie Madrideo of Calabarzon police said in a separate interview.

He said the relieved police officers are now assigned at the Calabarzon Police Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) pending investigation.

Madrideo further said they will order the relief of four other members of Cainta PNP who were also involved in the operation against Santillan.

Santillan was killed in an encounter with the police on early morning Monday.

Rizal police said Santillan's SUV sped off even after it was flagged down by the Highway Patrol Group.

Evangelista told DZBB on Tuesday that Santillan was a member of Hi-way Boys Group allegedly involved in illegal drugs and car theft in Rizal.

Recovered from Santillan's SUV were firearms and illegal drugs, he said.

Chiong confirmed that Santillan was his security aide but denied police statement that the latter was involved in illegal activities. —NB, GMA News