Samar mayor’s slay: 23 cops face administrative raps

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-three policemen are facing administrative charges in connection with the killing of Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino.

A report from the Regional Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the Eastern Visayas police stated that eight of the policemen assigned to the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) were charged with grave misconduct and grave irregularity in the performance of duty.

Eleven policemen detailed at the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit were charged with grave irregularity in the performance of duty for alleged violation of standard operating procedures during police operations.

Col. Michael David, IMEG Eastern Visayas director, and Lt. Col. Neil Montaño, regional police intelligence division director, are facing charges for irregularity in the performance of duty based on the doctrine of command responsibility.

Sources said regional police director Brig. Gen. Ronaldo de Jesus was ”spared” of administrative charges for command responsibilty.

Sources said the name of De Jesus, who is retiring from the service next month, was removed from the list.

Philippine National Police-IAS chief Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo expressed confidence that his office would finish the hearings within 20 days from the date of filing of the complaints.

Aquino’s police escort S/Sgt. Rodeo Sario and driver Dennis Abayon were killed in the incident on March 8. The mayor’s assistant Mansfiled Labonite was wounded.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed murder and frustrated murder charges against seven policemen, three civilians and several others tagged in the killing.

The NBI said the evidence it gathered confirmed that the incident was an ambush and not a chance encounter as alleged by the suspects.