Retired, active cops say they, too, were victims of Garins
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2018 16:01:36 +0000
The Philippine National Police is investigating if retired and active policemen assigned to Guimbal, Iloilo also suffered abuses from any member of the Garin political clan.
Iloilo Rep. Richard Garin and his father, Guimbal, Iloilo Mayor Oscar Garin, were recently accused of mauling and spitting on PO3 Edgar Macaya during a confrontation at the municipal hall.
Macaya reportedly earned the Garins’ ire when he refused to yield to the pressure of filing physical abuses case against a son of Sangguniang Bayan member who is reportedly a political enemy of the Garins.
“We are now conducting investigation to know why a lot of policemen assigned there are now requesting to be assigned to other places after the incident on PO3 Macaya,” said PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde.
Police sources in Western Visayas said some retired and active policemen in Guimbal have started to speak up on the alleged abuses they suffered from the Garins after Chief Supt. John Bulalacao stood up to defend Macaya.
Bulalacao recalled all the police escorts of the Garins after learning of the incident. He also sacked the acting chief of police for failure to defend his personnel as the manhandling occurred in his presence.
“A lot of policemen suddenly had the courage to speak up after learning that Gen. Bulalacao and eventually the entire PNP leadership defended PO3 Macaya and even fought back against the Garins,” a source said.
Macaya has filed criminal charges against the Garins. The PNP leadership vowed to provide all the legal assistance to Macaya.
Albayalde has stripped the Garins of the privilege to own and carry guns. The Garins have surrendered most of the firearms they own after an order was served on them.
Some of the guns were not surrendered as the Garins said that they were lost. The claim are backed with a police report from the Guimbal police.
“We will determine if there are still victims from our men,” said Albayalde.
“If we find out that there are still others who suffered abuses from the congressman and the mayor, then we will file additional cases,” he added.
Albayalde said that even if Macaya eventually decides to settle the case with the Garins, they will still push through with administrative cases and stand up on his decision to recommend the cancellation of the police power of Mayor Garin and the cancellation of their gun privileges. (Aaron Recuenco)