MANILA, July 13 — Malacañang on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte respects the decision of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to reinstate the police officer implicated in the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and another inmate in a Leyte jail in November last year.
“The President respects and abides by the rule of law. Police Superintendent Marvin Marcos has served his suspension and is eligible to be back to duty,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.
“PNP chief Ronald de la Rosa has confirmed the resolution of an administrative case which favored Marcos and the 18 other policemen in Leyte linked in the Espinosa killing,” the Palace official added.
Abella’s statement followed reports that Marcos, the former head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Eastern Visayas (CIDG-8), is set to be assigned as the new head of the CIDG-12 or the Soccsksargen region.
CIDG Director Roel Obusan has confirmed this adding that 15 of Marcos’ men were also allowed to be reinstated.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) had earlier filed murder charges against Marcos and 18 of his men for the November 5, 2016 killing of Espinosa and Raul Yap inside their detention cells in a sub-provincial jail in Baybay, Leyte while being served a search warrant for allegedly possessing firearms.
The other 18 policemen included: Supt. Santi Noel Matira; Chief Insp. Leo Larraga; Senior Insp. Fritz Blanco; Senior Insp. Deogracias Diaz; Insp. Lucredito Candilosas; SPO4 Melvin Cayubit; PO3 Johnny Ibañez; SPO4 Juanito Duarte; PO1 Lloyd Ortigueza; PO1 Bhernard Orpilla; SPO2 Benjamin Dacallos; PO3 Norman Abellanosa; PO1 Jerlans Cabiyaan; PO1 Clixto Canillas Jr; SPO1 Mark Christian Cadilo; PO2 John Ruel Doculan; SPO2 Antonio Docil; and PO2 Jaime Dacsal.
The Internal Affairs Service (IAS) of the PNP in April recommended the demotion and suspension of all the police officers involved in the death of Espinosa.
Last month, the DOJ overturned its earlier decision and downgraded the charges from murder to homicide.
The decision to reinstate Marcos and his men was criticized by several members of the Senate.
Malacañang, however, refused to comment and said that it is up to the PNP to explain its decision.
“We leave the matter to the (PNP-IAS) to explain its decision. The case, however, maybe appealed to the National Police Commission,” Abella said. (Cielito M. Reganit/PNA)
