Former Biliran Rep. Glenn Chong on Thursday, April 29, filed before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) administrative and criminal complaints against Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Debold M. Sinas in connection with the case on the 2018 death of the former legislator’s personal aide Richard Santillan.
Sinas was charged administratively with grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
He was charged criminally with violations of Section 5(a) and (e) of Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Section 1(b) of Presidential Decree 1829 that penalizes obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders.
In his complaint, Chong said he wrote a letter to Sinas last Jan. 15 and sought for the Daily Intelligence Brief written by Col. Serafin Petalio relating to the murder of his bodyguard.
However, he said, three months passed without any reply.
He explained that he wanted to check the Daily Intelligence Brief because Calabarzon police regional director Brig. Gen. Edward Carranza submitted an incident report that appeared to have been altered.
"Dinagdagan po ni Gen. Carranza yun kanyang report, (He added things in his report)," said Chong. "Diniin niya ang sasakyan ko na sangkot sa Highway Boys Group para magkaroon ng justification na patayin nila si Santillan (He stressed that my car was involved with the Highway Boys Group in order to find justification for the killing of Santillan)," he said,
As a public official, Chong said that Sinas has an obligation to answer letters of ordinary citizens such as himself as well as to give access to public documents.
Chong also filed a complaint against PCapt. Jason Tan Manuel, chief of the PNP's Firearms Licensing Division, for also refusing to provide documents concerning the case of Santillan.
Santillan, together with his female companion Gessamyn Casing, was killed in December 2018 in Barangay San Andres in Cainta, Rizal.
The PNP claimed that the incident that resulted in the death of Santillan was part of their legitimate police operations against the so-called “Highway Boys” involved in drug trade, carnapping, robbery and killings in Floodway in Cainta.
It said that the police operatives spotted the unregistered Toyota Fortuner that was supposedly being used by the syndicate in its operations, which at that time was being driven by Santillan.
It said the police operatives tried to flag down the vehicle but Santillan sped off resulting in a chase. When Santillan fired at the operates, it said the policemen were forced to retaliate.