PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA – Seven of the eight Cavite police officers who were caught on video while ransacking the house of a retired professor in an anti-drug operation have been dismissed from the service.
In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Wednesday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said top cop Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. has signed the dismissal order against Staff Sergeants Jesus Alday, Julius Barbon, and Emil Buna; Corporals Jenerald Cadiang and Lew Amando Antonio; and patrol officers Reymel Czar Reyes and Rene Mendoza.
“They will be slapped with six counts of grave misconduct, two counts of less grave misconduct, one count of grave irregularity in the performance of duty, grave dishonesty and conduct unbecoming of a police officer,” Fajardo said, adding that Acorda based his decision on the recommendation of the police force's Internal Affairs Service.
This stemmed from the Aug. 2 operation of the members of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) unit, who were in civilian clothes when they forcibly entered the house of 67-year-old suspect Rebecca Caoile in Barangay Alapan 1-A, Imus City, Cavite.
In a viral video, Caoile was heard screaming for help during the incident. It also showed that other cops who remained outside of the suspect's residence were tinkering with a parked motorcycle and some police officers carrying some items from her house, including a tire and a motorcycle rim.
The police officers also allegedly took cash, a laptop, and other items from Caoile's residence. Caoile was then arrested.
They were relieved and taken into police custody after the incident pending criminal and administrative investigation. Charges of robbery were later filed against them.
Meanwhile, the eighth police officer, Senior Master Sgt. Daisy Diones has been exonerated from grave misconduct charges.
"There was no enough basis or evidence to find her guilty because accordingly, her only participation was to frisk the female suspect. She was not involved in the act of forcibly entering the house," Fajardo said.
Fajardo, however, said Diones would undergo a pre-charge investigation for neglect of duty while relieved Imus Police chief Lt. Col. Michael Batoctoy and several other police officers would also undergo pre-charge investigation for neglect of duty under the doctrine of command responsibility.
She added that the penalty for grave neglect of duty would depend on the result of the pre-charge investigation on the embattled police officers. (PNA)
This stemmed from the Aug. 2 operation of the members of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) unit, who were in civilian clothes when they forcibly entered the house of 67-year-old suspect Rebecca Caoile in Barangay Alapan 1-A, Imus City, Cavite.
In a viral video, Caoile was heard screaming for help during the incident. It also showed that other cops who remained outside of the suspect's residence were tinkering with a parked motorcycle and some police officers carrying some items from her house, including a tire and a motorcycle rim.
The police officers also allegedly took cash, a laptop, and other items from Caoile's residence. Caoile was then arrested.
They were relieved and taken into police custody after the incident pending criminal and administrative investigation. Charges of robbery were later filed against them.
Meanwhile, the eighth police officer, Senior Master Sgt. Daisy Diones has been exonerated from grave misconduct charges.
"There was no enough basis or evidence to find her guilty because accordingly, her only participation was to frisk the female suspect. She was not involved in the act of forcibly entering the house," Fajardo said.
Fajardo, however, said Diones would undergo a pre-charge investigation for neglect of duty while relieved Imus Police chief Lt. Col. Michael Batoctoy and several other police officers would also undergo pre-charge investigation for neglect of duty under the doctrine of command responsibility.
She added that the penalty for grave neglect of duty would depend on the result of the pre-charge investigation on the embattled police officers. (PNA)
