The Internal Affairs Service’s (IAS) recommendation to impose a 40-day suspension against the policeman involved in the fatal shooting of a teenager with special needs in Valenzuela City is still under review, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said.
According to the PNP chief, all resolutions of the IAS regarding administrative cases of rogue cops need to be reviewed by the Discipline, Law, and Order Division, an office under the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM).
“Naiintindihan ko ang saloobin ng pamilya ni Erwin Arnigo sa inirekomendang parusa ng Internal Affairs Service sa pulis na naging dahilan ng kanyang kamatayan sa isang anti-illegal gambling operation sa Valenzuela noong nakaraang Mayo,” Eleazar said.
“But just like other results of IAS investigations, this case will still be subjected to two more reviews— under the Discipline, Law, and Order Division or DLOD of the DPRM and under the Office of the Chief PNP— to determine if there are solid legal grounds to justify the recommendations made. This is how due process works in your PNP,” he added.
The family of victim Edwin Arnigo is not satisfied that Police Senior Master Sergeant Christopher Salcedo will only face a 40-day suspension. Arnigo’s mother even sought Eleazar’s help in the matter, saying that stiffer penalties must be enforced against the cop.
Eleazar appealed to the family to let the entire review process take its course as there is no final decision yet on the matter, noting that the 40-day suspension is only a recommendation.
“Sa ngayon, masusing nire-review ang kasong ito sa DLOD at gaya ng ipinangako ko sa pamilya Arnigo at sa ating mga kababayan, magiging patas ang resulta ng imbestigasyon at aksyon ng inyong PNP tungkol dito,” Eleazar said.
Police had claimed that Arnigo attempted to grab the cop’s gun and was shot during the scuffle. This was opposed by his family, saying that the victim was afraid of police officers.
The National Bureau of Investigation was tapped to conduct a probe into the incident. ###
(PNP-PIO) – jlo
