The results of the Philippine National Police (PNP) investigation on the cop who mercilessly shot his female neighbor to death in Quezon City will be released in three to four weeks' time, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Friday, June 4.
PNP Chief Eleazar said he has been informed by the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) that the administrative case of grave misconduct has already been filed against Police Master Sergeant Hensie Zinampan, a member of the PNP Police Security Protection Group (PSPG).
Zinampan was arrested after he brutally shot 52-year-old Lilibeth Valdez, his neighbor in Barangay Greater Fairvew, last May 31 over an old grudge. The incident was caught on video, which subsequently went viral.
"Tiniyak ng ating IAS Inspector General Atty. Alfegar Triambulo na kaya nilang tapusin ang pagdinig sa kasong grave misconduct laban kay Zinampan sa loob ng tatlo hanggang apat na linggo (IAS Inspector General Atty. Alfegar Triambulo assured us that they can finish hearing the case of grave misconduct filed against Zinampan in three to four weeks)," Eleazar said.
Aside from the administrative case, Zinampan is also facing a criminal case for murder. Eleazar said that once Zinampan is proven guilty of the crime, he will be imprisoned and dismissed from the service.
Eleazar admitted that he wants to expedite the investigation since the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had also ordered the PNP to fast track the resolution of pending administrative cases against erring police officers.
"Pag-aaralan natin kung paano mas mapapabilis pa ang proseso sa ating Internal Affairs Service nang hindi nasasakripisyo ang karapatan ng mga respondent na dumaan sa due process. Ito kasi ang isinasaalang-alang natin para maiwasan ma-teknikal at mapawalang-saysay ang kasong administratibo na naisampa laban sa kanila (We will study how to make the process in the Internal Affairs Service quicker without sacrificing the rights of the respondents to due process. This is what we are considering to avoid encountering technicalities that would just waste the administrative cases filed against them)," he explained.
Eleazar said the PNP will also abide by DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano's order to instill strict discipline on cops committing vicious acts.
"We will abide by the directive and guidance of our SILG Secretary Eduardo Año and further instill discipline and professionalism on our police personnel. Indeed, strict supervision is what we need to cleanse our ranks of erring personnel," he vowed.
With this, the PNP Chief reminded all police chiefs and unit heads to closely supervise the activities of their men to ensure that they will not get involved in unlawful acts.
"When it comes to supervision, I am reiterating my directive to all police commanders when I assumed as PNP Chief: Tutukan ninyo mabuti ang inyong mga tauhan. Tandaan ninyo na kung alam ng isang pulis na hindi siya kukunsintihin ng kanyang hepe, hindi na siya mag-iisip pa na gumawa ng anumang kalokohan (Strictly monitor your personnel. Remember: If a cop knows he won't be tolerated by his commander, he will not dare think to do illegal acts)," he stressed.
Eleazar assured the public that the PNP will be transparent in providing updates on Zinampan's case as well as other cases involving rogue police officers.