Napolcom: Administrative cases vs 12 cops in 'missing sabungeros' case strong
Napolcom vice chairman and chief executive officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan and Napolcom director Esman Pares show the charge sheet against 12 policemen linked to the case of missing cockfighters whose bodies were allegedly dumped into the Taal Lake.
The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has found probable cause for the administrative charges filed against three police officials and nine other lawmen in connection with the disappearance of cockfighters, or the case of the “missing sabungeros”.
With the cases of Grave Misconduct and Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer expected to be pursued, Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said they will wait for the response of the 12 policemen involved as part of the due process.
“They will be given time to file their answers after which there will be hearings,” said Calinisan.
“Under the rules we can order the preventive suspension of policemen involved. So let us wait first. I don’t want to preempt whatever action the Napolcom will take but that is an option that the Napolcom can consider,” he added.
The administrative cases were filed by whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias “Totoy” and relatives of the missing sabungeros whose bodies were allegedly dumped into the Taal Lake.
The respondents include police officers with the ranks of Police Colonel, Police Lieutenant Colonel and Police Major, and nine other Police Non-Commissioned Officers, eight of them are police sergeants.
Edman Pares, director of the Inspection Monitoring and Investigation Service, said the affidavit provided by Patidongan is strong to warrant the pursuit of the administrative cases.
“In the affidavit, there were statements that are factual in relation to his participation when it comes to the allegations which served as the basis for the filing of the case,” said Pares.
“We also have other documents in which we will be attaching our formal complaint,” he added.
Calinisan said the formal filing of administrative charges is expected to be done on Tuesday, July 29.
The cases slapped against the 12 policemen have maximum penalty of dismissal from the services and forfeiture of the retirement benefits.