8 cops charged for Palawan shooting

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Administrative charges have been filed against eight members of the Puerto Princesa police in Palawan in connection with a shooting incident that left two officers and a personnel of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) dead.

A complaint for neglect of duty was filed against former Puerto Princesa police station 2 chief Maj. Ray Aron Elona before the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service.

Aside from Elona, charged were Cpl. Renato Bedaña and S/Sgts. Jonah Balangan, Joseph Ian Carpio and Michael Juan.

The officers are facing charges for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, grave neglect of duty, and irregularity, inefficiency and incompetence in the performance of official duties.

Three others – S/Sgt. Ronald Ello, chief M/Sgt. Isidro Labrador Jr. and Lt. Raven Payang – are facing charges for grave neglect of duty under the doctrine of command responsibility.

Ello was the desk officer on-duty when the incident occurred at a wake in Barangay Inarawan on April 3.

The shooting resulted in the death of BuCor personnel Jerson Talon, and S/Sgts. Ryan Criz Cabana and Jayson Hernandez.

City police chief Col. Dennis de Leon said the officers may be dismissed from the service, demoted or suspended, depending on the outcome of the investigation.

The officers are under restrictive custody.