MANILA – The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) vowed full cooperation in the probe into the alleged involvement of some policemen in the series of attacks against personnel of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad said the death of a policeman at the hands of BOC personnel will not stop cooperation to find out the truth regarding the series of attacks.
Master Sgt. Celedonio Caunceran, assigned with the Quezon City Police District, was arrested by BOC personnel after he was seen roaming around the bureau’s office on May 20.
"Though complaints or cases filed against subject policeman pertaining to the same allegations are yet to be confirmed, I have high confidence in our investigation process and rest assured that due and in-depth examination of the circumstances and pieces of evidence gathered shall be conducted to ultimately establish the truth behind this case," Natividad said.
"At the moment, all units concerned are considering all possible collaborative effort to finally uncover the facts in the alleged series of attacks against Customs employees," he added.
At around 5:15 p.m. BOC personnel received information that a male with firearm was monitored roaming around within the vicinity of the BOC.
Personnel from the BOC's Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service responded and accosted Caunceran for alleged violation of the Comelec gun ban.
He was taken for investigation but he allegedly grabbed a gun of one of the BOC personnel. He was shot in the head and chest.
Natividad confirmed that Caunceran was placed under the District Holding and Accounting Section of the QCPD over allegations of his involvement in the series of killings of BOC employees.
QCPD District Director Brig. Gen. Remus Medina said that they will thoroughly look into the circumstances of the incident.
“Nakakalungkot na humantong sa ganito ang insidenteng ito, kung sakali man na totoong may kinalaman ni Caunceran sa lahat ng ibinibintang kanya ay hindi ko kinukunsinti ang kanyang gawain at maging ang iba pang kapulisan ng QCPD na maaring gumagawa rin ng kahalintulad na bagay ay kaylan man ay hindi ko kukunsintihin. May batas at proseso tayo para patunayan ang katotohanan ng isang pag aakusa at ito ang ating laging sinusunod at ipinatutupad (It is unfortunate that the incident led to this. Should there be any truth that Caunceran was involved in the allegations against him, I would not tolerate such acts. We have a law and process to prove the truth of an accusation and this is what we always follow and enforce),” Medina said. (PNA)
