Police official in Atimonan massacre goes missing

MANILA, Philippines - A police official tagged in the Atimoman multiple murder case has gone missing, police reported on Thursday.

Superintendent Ramon Balauag, former Chief of the Police Intelligence Branch of Quezon Police Provincial Office, has been marked Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) his superiors in the Administrative Resource Management Division of the Headquarters Support Service (ARMD-HSS) in Camp Crame.

The HSS said that Balauag has failed to report since July 8.

HSS director Chief Superintendent Samuel Yordan said he has ordered a probe on Balauag’s continued absence, which can be used as basis for summary dismissal proceedings against the officer under Philippine National Police (PNP) regulations.

Yordan cited Section 53 of Republic Act 8551 which says “Any member or officer of the PNP who shall go on absence without official leave for a continuous period of 30 days or more shall be dismissed immediately from the service. His activities and whereabouts during the period shall be investigated and if found to have committed a crime, he shall be prosecuted accordingly."

Meanwhile, Yordan said he has formed a tracker team to locate and arrest Balauag.

Upon their indictment in the Atimonan multiple murder case, involved PNP personnel were placed under restrictive custody at Camp Crame, effective January 23 to ensure their proper accounting and availability to face further investigation.

Balauag has since been detailed with the ARMD, until he failed to report for duty on July 8.

The HSS said that two notices have been sent to Balauag's last known address in Quezon City.

Balauag was also supposed to attend an administrative hearing last August 5 at the PNP-Internal Affairs Service.

Yordan said that Balauag's lawyer has been informed of the police official's AWOL status.