Cebu cops get P1 million as “legal aid”

CEBU, Philippines — Several businessmen have donated a total of P1 million to the police force in Cebu as “legal aid” to cops who are facing administrative and criminal charges in relation to their work.

Police Regional Office - 7 Director Debold Sinas did not disclose the names of the businessmen but said their donation will go a long way.

Cops who face charges often use their personal money to pay for legal fees, which are not necessarily cheap. A lawyer, for example, can charge up to P150,000 for acceptance fee alone.

"(We are) grateful to the people who are pro-police and who are looking after the welfare and generally support the men and women of PRO7, all for the purpose (of) attaining a safer and peaceful atmosphere and thereby paving economic progress in Central Visayas," Sinas said.

He said expenses of cops who had cases since 2016 will be reimbursed.

At present, at least 193 policemen face charges in relation to their work, majority of which stems from anti-illegal drugs operations.

Among the 193 policemen are Police Senior Insp. John Kareen Escober, PO1 Wilbert Perez and PO1 Rey Van Dadula who were charged in relation to the death of five-year-old Skyler Abatayo who was hit by a stray bullet during an operation in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City on July 10, 2018.

The National Bureau of Investigation, the agency that conducted the investigation against the policemen, said the three allegedly covered up what really happened during the operation.

The move of the NBI to file the charges did not sit well with Cebu City Police Director Royina Garma who alleged that the NBI is demoralizing the police.

“Anticipated ko yan na NBI will do their best to demoralize the PNP lalo na Cebu City Police. I don’t know why. They are supposed to be our partners, but they are doing this to us so we will just face it,” Garma said earlier. (FREEMAN)