4 generals seen with Mar supporter reprimanded

MANILA, Philippines - The four police generals seen in the company of a supporter of defeated presidential candidate Mar Roxas a month before the May elections were actually with several other police generals, outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said yesterday.

Marquez said he censured the four – PNP Directorate for Intelligence chief Generoso Cerbo Jr., and Chief Supts. Rainer Idio, Bernardo Diaz and Ronald Santos – who were the subjects of an investigation by the Internal Affairs Service and the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management for administrative offenses.

The IAS and DIDM have yet to release the result of the investigation, even as Marquez is retiring today, two months earlier than his scheduled retirement on Aug. 28.

Idio, Diaz and Santos were then regional directors of the Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas and Southern Tagalog police offices, respectively.

Marquez said he wrote the generals a letter, reminding them to observe proper decorum at all times as they are holding sensitive positions.

“It pains me because the police organization is being dragged into the controversy,” he said.

The PNP chief said he sent a copy of the letter to the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management for record purposes.

The STAR had reported the presence of the four active police generals at the Novotel in Quezon City, in the company of Roxas’ supporters, on April 2.

The generals were in civilian clothes when they were seen with retired PNP deputy director general Marcelo Garbo Jr. at the Gourmet Bar of the hotel, located at the Araneta Center.

Marquez and incoming PNP director Chief Supt. Ronald dela Rosa confirmed that the four generals were actually with other police officers. The four were classmates at the Philippine Military Academy Maharlika Class 1984.

“We learned that more than 20 police officers were there. We heard that the other police officers were merely following orders to be there,” Marquez said in Filipino.

Earlier, Dela Rosa told The STAR that there were more than four generals at the Novotel meeting, but he refused to elaborate.

The supposed meeting of the police and military generals was witnessed by a group of journalists from Metro Manila, Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, who happened to be in the area for a seminar.

Hold on to your dreams

Meanwhile, Marquez advised police officers who might be relieved from their posts once the new administration takes over to hold on to their dreams and remember the values of public service.

Marquez gave the advice in the wake of Dela Rosa’s vow to implement a major revamp in the PNP.

He said positions are insignificant since the focus must be to serve the people.

“Whatever or wherever our assignments be, nothing is insignificant, as long as it’s for public service. We all contribute to ensure that an institution like the PNP will continue to serve the people. There is no insignificant assignment,” Marquez said.

He said he has a dream team at the PNP and should he be given another chance to head the institution, he would appoint them again.

Marquez said his batchmates – Directors Victor Deona and Benjamin Magalong, chiefs of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and DIDM, respectively – are capable to head the PNP.

He cited the CIDG as the best performing unit of the PNP. 

The CIDG has served 480 search and arrest warrants in a matter of two days in Southern Tagalog.

On Sunday, Marquez bade members of the Pangasinan police goodbye and urged them to observe proper decorum.

Senior Supt. Edgar Alan Okubo, officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan police, told The STAR that Marquez turned over a Mahindra police mobile patrol to the Sta. Barbara municipal police station. – With Eva Visperas