(June 2, 2021) – Police killings hogged the headlines this week after two police officers were embroiled in back-to-back controversial shooting incidents, tarnishing the reputation yet again of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Police Master Sgt. Hensie Zinampan shot his 52-year-old neighbor Lilybeth Valdez in Fairview, Quezon City on Monday after an alleged verbal altercation. A day later, it was revealed that Cpl. Sherwin Rebot gunned down his fellow police officer, Cpl. Higinio Wayan, after losing in arm wrestling, disputing the earlier claim that the victim accidentally shot himself.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar was sworn in with the promise to institute reforms. He said the PNP was infiltrated by bad eggs, reinforcing the claim that the killings were isolated in nature. The PNP has tried to convince the public that the incidents do not reflect the institution as a whole.
But it appears many Filipinos are no longer buying this.
Netizens took to social media to protest the recent string of cold-blooded murders at the hands of police officers who promised “to serve and protect” the people. Not to mention, other blatant blunders in PNP operations.
Valenzuela killing
Prior to the killings this week, four police officers were involved in the shooting of an 18-year-old Edwin Arnigo in Valenzuela while conducting a cockfight raid. They accused the victim, who was diagnosed with autism, of seizing a firearm that triggered the scuffle. Witnesses, however, refuted this narrative.
Arnigo was apprehended even though he was not involved in the cockfight, according to his family. Helen Arnigo said her son couldn’t have fought the police officers given his fear of law enforcers.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has started an independent probe into the incident per the family’s request. Only one witness has come forward so far.
Eleazar promised to hold accountable the four police officers involved, with Master Sgt. Christopher Salcedo placed under restrictive custody, while Cpl. Kenneth Pacheco, Cpl. Rex Paredes, and Cpl. Rodel Villar were relieved from their posts. Administrative charges before the PNP Internal Affairs Service will also be filed.
Peace consultants gunned down
Two activists and a former priest were killed in separate police killing incidents in Visayas last May 28.
Peace consultant Reynaldo Bocala of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) was killed in a police raid in Pavia, Iloilo along with his aide, Welly Arguelles Epago, who was accused of opening fire while arrest warrants were being served. Former priest Rustico Tan, meanwhile, was gunned down in his residence in Pilar, Cebu.
All of them were accused of having links with the New People’s Army (NPA), but human rights groups have countered this claim.
Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay urged the government to put an end to the series of killings of activists which they believe heightened due to the Anti-Terrorism Law. Palabay also sought an independent probe into the killings, which could be part of the government’s anti-insurgency campaign.
“These incidents and killings should also be investigated in the context of previous incidents of killings and attacks against other NDFP peace consultants or spokespersons, who were killed in similar patterns,” urged Palabay.
Mayor’s death
Mayor Ronaldo Aquino of Calbayog, Samar died in a police shootout on the evening of March 8 as a local anti-drug unit was allegedly conducting security drills in the area. PNP officials first reported it was an ambush.
It eventually prompted the dismissal of Lt. Col. Neil Montaño, chief of Calbayog PNP, over Aquino’s killing. Another factor that contributed to his sacking was the request of his intelligence chief, Lt. Fernando Calabria Jr., for a list of lawyers defending persons with alleged communist links.
The NBI also investigated the shooting, while the PNP formed a special task force to look into the incident.
Tarlac double murder
No one could ever forget about the brutal killing of a mother and her son in Paniqui, Tarlac last December. Their neighbor, Police Senior Master Sgt. Jonel Nuezca, shot them point-blank after a heated verbal dispute. The entire pitiless incident was caught on a cellphone video.
Filipinos rallied behind the family of 52-year-old Sonya Gregorio and her 25-year-old son Frank Gregorio who both died on the spot. Nuezca got crucified on social media for his blatant abuse of power, especially since he was off-duty at that time and the victims weren’t threats.
Nuezca was dismissed from the PNP three weeks after his criminal act. Apart from facing administrative sanctions, he also faces murder charges before the Paniqui Regional Trial Court Branch 67. He pleaded not guilty.
Cop shoots soldier
Past incidents have shown that not even military members can be spared from police killings.
Retired soldier Winston Ragos was shot dead by Master Sgt. Daniel Florendo Jr. at a checkpoint in Pasong Putik, Quezon City at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. Ragos, who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Marawi, was accused of trying to pull out a gun from his bag, prompting Florendo to kill him.
The NBI later found evidence to prove Florendo’s claim was false, pushing investigators to recommend the filing of murder, perjury, and planting of evidence before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
In another incident last January, police officers killed four soldiers in Jolo, Sulu while trying to locate a suicide bomber. Nine PNP personnel were later charged for murder as the NBI found sufficient evidence to believe they planted evidence.
Caught on camera
Also due to planting evidence, seven police officers in Valencia, Bukidnon were relieved from service last April.
A cellphone video of the incident, which happened last February, showed Cpl. Benzon Gonzales placing a gun beside the dead body of Pol Lopez Estañol, a barangay tanod, who was accused of having ties to the local drug trade.
Just a few days later after the cellphone video went viral, Gonzales passed away due to a car accident. The names of the other sacked police officers weren’t released.
Planting evidence is not new in the anti-drug operations of the PNP, according to human rights groups, slamming President Rodrigo Duterte for his bloody policy.
At least 7,000 people have died in the brutal drug war. Many of the victims were accused of fighting back, otherwise known as “nanlaban,” to justify the killings. Only the police officers who killed the 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos in 2017 were sentenced to life imprisonment for deaths related to Duterte’s drug war.
Brutal sanctions
Aside from outright killings, the PNP has also been heavily criticized recently for the inhumane treatment of quarantine violators.
In General Trias, Cavite last April, 28-year-old Darren Peñaredondo died after being forced by two police officers to do 300 squats as punishment for violating curfew hours.
General Trias PNP chief Lt. Col. Marlo Solero was fired. He previously denied harsh punishment was implemented even after Peñaredondo already died.
In the previous year, police officers from General Trias also faced backlash for mauling 33-year-old Ronald Ocampo, a factory worker, who was accused of violating curfew protocols as well. Ocampo suffered a skull fracture and sustained bruises and wounds.
Department of Justice secretary Menardo Guevarra already said quarantine violators should only be subjected to community service instead of harsh sanctions. Duterte, however, has previously emboldened the PNP to “shoot them dead.”
Moving forward
Since assuming power, Duterte has defended the PNP despite illegal acts of police officers. In 2018, he increased their pay, allowing the lowest-ranked personnel to receive almost a 100% hike in salary.
Eleazar has much work left to do in ushering in fundamental changes to the PNP, most notably when it comes to cleansing the ranks and ensuring accountability.
Human rights groups have urged him to seek help from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and other independent agencies to investigate cases involving PNP personnel instead of blocking them.
“After a string of recent deaths and killings being attributed to police officers, we urge the PNP to translate commitments of internal cleansing into the actual reduction of cases of human rights violations on the ground. One death is one too many,” said CHR spokesperson Jacqueline De Guia.
Eleazar will reach the PNP’s mandatory retirement age of 56 in November.
(Beatrice Puente/PM)
