Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar vowed on Tuesday, June 1, to personally monitor the dismissal proceedings against a police sergeant who, in a viral video, shot an elderly woman to death in Quezon City.
A visibly enraged Eleazar confronted the suspect, Police Master Sergeant Hensie Zinampan, at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) where the latter was detained. Zinampan is assigned to the Police Security Protection Group (PSPG).
The victim was identified as Lilibeth Valdez, 52.
According to police reports, Valdez tried to appease an apparently drunk Zinampan when he went to their house in Barangay Greater Fairview on the night of May 31.
Initial investigation showed that Zinampan figured in a scuffle with the son of Valdez last May 1. The vicitm's daughter told the police investigators that the suspect threatened harm on them after the incident.
The viral video over on social media showed that the policeman was already holding his gun before he approached Valdez. The cop then grabbed Valdez by the hair while the victim was heard pleading for her life: "Sir, huwag niyo naman po akong sasaktan (Sir, please do not hurt me)."
Moments later, Zinampan shot Valdez at close range. He was arrested shortly by a responding unit from the QCPD.
"Tumingin ka nga sa akin. Anong inisip mo noong ginawa mo iyon? Sumagot ka! (Look at me. What were you thinking when you did that? Answer me!" Eleazar shouted at Zinampan when they met. The cop was unable to look at Eleazar's eyes.
While slightly pushing Zinampan against the wall, Eleazar asked the suspect: "May pamilya ka ba? may asawa ka? May anak ka? Anong tingin mo sa ibang tao para gawin 'yon? T*****a ka hirap na hirap tayo para ayusin itong organisasyon tapos ito lang ang gagawin mo? (Do you have a family? Do yoou have a child? How do you look at other people, for you to be able to do that? Son of a bitch, we are trying so hard to fix the organization, and then you do this?)"
Eleazar said he has already instructed Police Brig. Gen. Antonio Yarra, QCPD director, and Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo to expedite the conduct of investigation against Zinampan.
"Karumal-dumal at hindi katanggap-tanggap ito dahil pulis dapat ang nagpo-protekta sa ating mga kababayan, at hindi ang nag-a-astang kriminal laban sa kanila (This is horrendous and unacceptable since the police should be the ones protecting the people, and not act as criminals)," he stated.
Eleazar ordered the swift resolution of the administrative and criminal cases against Zinampan so he could be immediately dismissed from the service.
Aside from an administrative case, Zinampan is also facing a murder charge.
"On behalf of the men and women of the PNP, taus-puso po akong nakikiramay sa pamilya at humihingi ng paumanhin sa inasal ni Police Master Sergeant Zinampan. Makakaasa ang pamilya na hindi ko palalampasin ito at personal kong tutukan ang mga kaso upang mabigyan ang hustisya ang biktima (On behalf of the men and women of the PNP, I send my heartfelt condolences to the family and I am sorry for the way Police Master Sergeant Zinampan acted. You can expect that I will not tolerate this and I will personally monitor the case to give justice to the victim)," he said.
"“Humihingi din ako ng paumanhin sa ating mga kababayan sa inasal ng kriminal na pulis na ito. Iilan lang ang mga bugok na ito sa aming hanay kaya makakaasa kayo na gagawin ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya upang itama ang mga kamaliang ito para sa proteksyon ng aming organisasyon at para maibalik ang tiwala na taumbayan sa kanilang kapulisan (I am sorry too to our countrymen for the actions of this criminal cop. He is only a small part of the rotten ones in our ranks and rest assured that I will do everything to right this wrong for the protection of our organization, and to bring back the trust of the people in their police)," he added.
Eleazar said cops like Zinampan is the main reason why he has been aggressively pushing for a massive reform in the PNP, starting with the recruitment process.
He explained that the corruption and "padrino" system in the recruitment process are the main reasons why undeserving applicants manage to enter the police service.
He said that internal cleansing will be intensified to stop undesirable cops, like Zinampan, from joining the PNP.