By Junex Doronio
MANILA — A House leader is pushing for a motu proprio congressional investigation into the administrative and criminal cases filed against police officers involved in former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, seeking to address the impact on officers, particularly those of lower ranks.
Sta. Rosa City, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, co-chairman of the Quad Committee, said these low-ranking police officers now face legal consequences for actions they claim were orders from their superiors during the height of the drug war.
Fernandez, chairman of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, expressed the urgency of conducting a probe, citing the need to support officers who have been affected.
“I mean iyong mga kapulisan under my committee, actually tinitingnan ko po na bigyan ng isang motu propio investigation on this matter, kasi nga ang policy po ng former government ay iyun pong talagang negation, neutralization,” he said.
During the last Quad Comm hearing Wednesday, Duterte admitted that he was unaware of the number of police officers who were dismissed or charged while enforcing his violent war on drugs that killed thousands of Filipinos.
Fernandez highlighted that some officers were unaware that the orders they followed could lead to legal consequences, further noting some of them believed they were following lawful orders from then President Duterte and former police chief and now Sen. Bato dela Rosa.
Fernandez noted that many of these officers are now facing serious repercussions, including dismissals and criminal charges.
“Sabi nga ni Chief PNP maraming mga pulis ang mga na-dismiss, 195 yung mga na-dismiss tapos 398 facing dismissal,” he stated.
“So papaano iyung pamilya nila? Nawalan sila ng jobs, nawala iyong kanilang life, iyong kanilang dignity as well in following those orders,” he added.
Fernandez emphasized the need to investigate to distinguish between lawful and unlawful actions, especially since many officers followed orders under the belief they were within legal bounds.
“Kailangan siguro po natin ma-distinguish iyong isang lawful order and unlawful acts na ginawa ng mga pulis,” Fernandez said. “Mga lower ranks sila eh. Hindi nila alam na yun ang ginawa nila is unlawful.”
Fernandez pointed out that former President Duterte had publicly assured the police that he would take responsibility for the effects of the war on drugs.
“Di ba may pronouncement ang Presidente na, me alone will be responsible for the effects of the war on drugs now na nangyari sa kanila to so sino ang tutulong kanila?” he asked.
Fernandez suggested that the government needs to step in to determine the true intentions behind the actions of affected officers and whether they were simply acting out of duty.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers echoed Fernandez’s concerns, adding that many officers now face financial strain due to the cost of legal representation.
“Base po sa datos na binigay ni Chief PNP Marbil ay marami pong miyembro ng PNP ay nahaharap sa mga kasong administratibo at kasong kriminal and nangangailangan po sila ng abogado,” Barbers said.
He highlighted that some officers have resorted to loans to cover legal fees.
“In fact, ‘yung iba ay napipilitan pong mangutang sa AFPSLAI ba iyun or yung PSSLAI para lang makapagbayad ng abogado,” he noted.
Barbers revealed that many officers feel betrayed, having expected support for actions taken under the government’s anti-drug directives.
“Isa lang ho ang kanilang sinasabi na nasaan daw iyung pangako sa kanila na tutulungan sila sa mga kaso,” he said.
He pointed out that officers are struggling to manage their legal cases, with no assistance from the former administration that had assured them protection.
Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante emphasized that the purpose of the probe would not be to punish officers but to assist them, particularly those willing to tell the truth about the directives they received.
“Sa Quad Comm naman ay hindi upang parusahan natin ang kapulisan kundi para tulungan din natin,” Abante stated.
He added that some officers have expressed a desire to speak out, and the committee is prepared to assist them.
“Pinag usapan na namin ito e that we are there to help,” he said.
Abante suggested that witness protection might be extended to officers who are honest about their experiences, potentially with support from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“We’re there to ask the DOJ to perhaps provide the witness protection on them,” he explained.
“The present craft of the Philippine National Police leadership would provide protection for policemen who are honest enough to tell the truth,” Abante said.
Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun expressed dismay over the situation of officers now facing cases due to actions they believed were compliant with a presidential directive.
“Again, this cases is stemming up from their obedience sa Presidential directive dati ni Presidente Digong,” Khonghun said.
He noted the disappointment of these officers, many of whom now feel abandoned.
“So nakakalungkot lang na napabayaan yung mga police,” Khonghun added.
Khonghun emphasized that officers believed they were acting within the law by following orders from the former president.
“Siyempre they are, akala nila na they are following direct orders coming from the former President. So sa ngayon, napabayaan sila. So nakakalungkot lang dahil yung sinasabi ni former President is all rhetoric,” he lamented.
Fernandez reiterated the scale of the issue, sharing data on the number of officers affected by the anti-drug campaign’s directives.
“Meron tayong, sinulat ko po yung mga police na 1,286 yung cops na they either died or wounded, 1,286,” he said, adding, “214 po yung may mga kinakaharap na administrative and criminal cases.”
He revealed that “195 na-dismiss na po sila, ‘yung 398, facing dismissal.”
According to Fernandez, officers affected by the war on drugs should come forward to share their experiences as part of the inquiry.
“So well, nananawagan din po kami sa inyo kasi nga kayo biktima rin kayo rito ng war on drugs,” he said. He encouraged them to engage with the committee, saying,
“So if ever that you wanted to avail para madinig po namin kayo, so iniimbitahan din po namin kayo na makipag-ugnayan po kayo sa Quad Comm.”
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By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Santa Rosa City lone district Representative Dan Fernandez on Thursday (22 Aug 2024) confirmed during the House quad-committee (quad-comm) hearing that an alleged close associate of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo is now in the hands of Indonesian immigration authorities.
“We have received a communication coming from Ronalyn Baterna for her supplemental motion for reconsideration. But considering all of the communications that were sent to us as well Cassandra Lee Ong was already in the custody of the Bureau of Immigration of Indonesia,” Fernandez said.
Guo, who had been linked to illegal POGO operations, reportedly met Ong in Singapore after fleeing the Philippines under the radar of local authorities.
Ong, a businesswoman, had earlier been cited for contempt by the House of Representatives for her failure to attend hearings in connection with the POGO controversy.
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