CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Police Regional Office 4-A chief Police Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas ordered on Tuesday, May 28, the relief of eight police intelligence officers over the conduct of an operation in the house of a woman in Lucena City on May 24.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/27/8-lucena-police-intel-agents-held-for-breaking-into-woman-s-house
Lucas also ordered the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division, in coordination with the Regional Internal Affairs Service, to conduct a parallel administrative investigation.
“To our beloved citizens, as the regional director of PRO-Calabarzon, I reiterate my clear stance against misconduct by any member of our force. We condemn such actions in the strongest terms and assure the public that these officers, if found guilty, will meet the full arms of the law,” Lucas said.
Charges for violation of domicile, grave threats, and unjust vexation have been filed by the victim, Renelyn Rianzales, 52, a candidate in the 2023 barangay elections, before the Lucena City Prosecutor’s Office against Police Capt. Aaron Herrera, Master Sgt. Richie Yuayan, Staff Sgt. Henry Mago, Staff Sgt. Junar Cabalsa, and Corporals Rainier Zaballa, Allan Abdon, Wilson Bantilan, and Rene John Bartolata.
Rianzales, together with Armando Cubos Paderon, reported to the Lucena police that armed men forcibly entered their house.
Police conducted an investigation and found out that they were their intelligence operatives.
They were relieved from their posts and reassigned to the Regional Headquarters Holding Accounting Section in this camp under restrictive custody.
The chief of the Lucena police was also relieved from his post under the doctrine of command responsibility.