19 cops face relief over Cainta shooting

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Nineteen members of the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) police are facing dismissal in connection with a shooting incident in Cainta, which killed an aide of a senatorial aspirant and a woman.

Senior Superintendent Jose Rayco, chief of the Calabarzon police internal affairs service, refused to name the officers pending results of an ongoing summary dismissal hearing.

The officers were tagged in the killing of Richard Santillan, a security aide of senatorial aspirant and lawyer Glenn Chong, and his alleged girlfriend Gessmayn Casing during a purported encounter in Cainta on Dec. 10.

Citing results of a probe conducted by the pre-charge evaluation division of the regional police, Rayco said there was probable cause for a case of grave misconduct filed against the police officers.

The pre-charge evaluation division recommended the dismisal of the police officers.

“The dismissal hearing is still ongoing. We are still awaiting the result of the probe conducted by the summary hearing officer,” Rayco said.

The Calabarzon police earlier said the Cainta operation was legitimate and properly conducted with the local authorities.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Lou Evangelista, Rizal police director, has been reinstated in his post.

Evangelista, Cainta police chief Superintendent Pablito Naganap and 17 other officers were relieved earlier to ensure an impartial investigation of the incident.

Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, Calabarzon police director, said Philippine National Police Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde ordered Evangelista’s reinstatement.