PNP: 8 Bicol cops relieved over late reporting of detainee’s death during transport

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said eight cops, mostly officials in Bicol, have been relieved from their posts over the delayed reporting of the fatal shooting of a detainee during transport.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said the following personnel were relieved:

• The Region Investigation and Detective Management Division chief of the Police Regional Office 5
• The Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office director
• The Catanduanes Police Provincial Office director
• The Del Gallego Municipal Police Station chief in Camarines Sur
• The San Miguel Municipal Police Station chief in Catanduanes
• The chief investigator in the Del Gallego Municipal Police Station 
• The investigator-on-case in the Del Gallego Municipal Police Station, and
• The warrant section chief of the San Miguel Municipal Police Station.

Tuaño said they were removed from their posts due to administrative liability because the incident report took 12 days to reach the police regional headquarters.

“Linawin natin na ang administrative liability na nakita ng regional office sa kanila, ito yung late reporting ng nasabing insidente na umabot daw halos 12 araw bago nakarating sa regional headquarters. Sila ay undergoing pre-charge investigation. Sila ay na-order ng relief sa kanilang mga puwesto,” Tuaño said.

(Let us clarify that the administrative liability that the regional office found in them is the late reporting of the said incident which took almost 12 days before reaching the regional headquarters. They are undergoing a pre-charge investigation. They have been ordered relieved from their posts.)

Their deputies will serve as officers-in-charge during the investigation.

On February 6, four personnel from the Catanduanes Police Provincial Office were transporting two detainees, including a victim identified as Michael Echague, from Pasig City to Catanduanes.

Their vehicle stopped on Rolando Andaya Highway when the detainees requested to relieve himself.

While in handcuffs, Echague allegedly elbowed one police officer, grabbed the cop’s rifle, pointed it toward the operatives, and pulled the trigger. 

But the firearm did not discharge as it was not loaded so the detainee fled from the scene, police said.

“The suspect was subsequently pursued by police personnel. Upon reaching a bushy ravine approximately one kilometer away from the vehicle, the suspect was seen in a kneeling position, aiming the seized rifle toward the pursuing officers, who were then seeking cover,” the Police Regional Office 5 said.

“Fearing for their safety, the police officers responded by firing their issued pistols, which resulted in the suspect sustaining gunshot wounds in different parts of his body,” it added.

An autopsy report showed that Echague sustained three gunshot wounds to the shoulder and chest.

The involved police personnel have been placed under restrictive custody. — JMA, GMA Integrated News