PALO, Leyte – Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar reiterated once again his earlier stance against abuses perpetrated by his men.
“We will not tolerate abuses of our men,” Beltejar emphatically stated at the Christmas party of the PNP Press Corps on Friday (December 16) held at the Matapat Hall in Campetic, this town.
He asked members of the media to inform him of any abuses committed by police officers that reach their knowledge so he can do something like filing administrative cases against erring cops.
Alleged police abuses came into light as the national government under President Rodrigo Duterte wages a relentless if not brutal campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs.
Some human rights groups claimed that some of the so-called extrajudicial killings were perpetrated by the police themselves.
Recognizing the time-honored role of the media as watchdog of the society, Beltejar told newsmen not to hesitate to report to him cops that “ that went out of bounds or did not follow the standard operating procedures,” adding that these are acts that his leadership cannot tolerate.
According to Beltejar, in his talk with the PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the latter assured him that if it would be found out that the operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) who served search warrants at the Leyte subprovincial jail in Baybay City on November 5 this year really erred, their acts will not be tolerated.
The operation of the CIDG at very early dawn that day led to the death of former Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., father of the alleged drug lord of the region, Kerwin Espinosa.
Another inmate, Raul Yap, was killed during same operation, whom the CIDG team head C Insp. Leo Larraga claimed placed his man’s life in danger.
The untimely death of the older Espinosa and Yap prompted the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct its own probe.
The investigation found the operation of the CIDG operatives positive for failure to follow the proper procedures which turned out to be a rub out.
Beltejar commended the media for taking a very active stance on the issue about the Espinosa drug group which helped in giving information used during an inquiry conducted by the Senate.
Meantime, PRO8 Regional Police Community Relations Division chief S/Supt. Elizar Egloso, like Beltejar, expressed confidence in the new set of officers of the PNP Press Corps.
Vicky Arnaiz, president of the PNP press corps, assured that the newsmen who are members of the organization will maintain a neutral stance amidst issues confronting the PNP. (EILEEN NAZARENO-
BALLESTEROS)
