By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday condemned people who continue to support “enemies of the state” by taking advantage of the search warrant operations that resulted in the death of 14 suspects in Negros Oriental for their propaganda against the government.
“We should vehemently send our condemnation against these people supporting the perceived enemies of the state to gain power themselves, even sacrificing the innocent lives of young students to attain their own propaganda against our country and government,” PNP Chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, said in a statement.
Albayalde made the statement amid calls from leftist lawmakers for his resignation over the incident.
“Now, we prove to the Filipino people the realm of sympathizers who are in power supporting the leftist movement and its vain provision to dismantle and overthrow a constitutionally-elected government. Let me express this that in the name of delicadeza, which is obviously not in their moral virtues, they should be the (ones) who have long since resigned while enjoying the perks and privileges shouldered by the Filipino people,” he said.
The country’s top cop earlier ordered the relief of Col. Raul Tacaca, Negros Oriental provincial police director; Lt. Col. Patricio Degay, Canlaon City police chief; Lt. Kevin Roy Mamaradlo, Manjuyod municipal police chief; and Capt. Michael Rubia, Sta. Catalina police chief, from their posts to give way to an impartial investigation on the operations.
“I assure that this corresponding investigation by the PNP Internal Affairs Service is deemed in the ambit of fairness, truth, and justice whatever results may divulge. I reiterated that an impartial investigation is ongoing to determine if there were lapses in this series of police operations launched by our local police units accord(ing) to the Revised Police Operations Procedures,” Albayalde said.
The relieved officers will be assigned to the Police Holding and Accounting Unit in Camp Crame.
The PNP chief, however, clarified that the order is not a punitive measure against the police officials.