TACLOBAN CITY- Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the region will turn religious as part of its “internal cleansing.”
This was declared by Supt. Jason Aguillon, CIDG regional chief, in the wake of the filing of murder charges against its former head and 18 others.
Charged for double murder were Supt. Marvin Marcos and his men, namely,Supt. Santi Noel Matira, Chief Insp. Leo Laraga, Spo4 Melvin Cayobit, Seniro Insp. Deogracias Diaz 111, PO3 Johnny Ibanez, SPO2 Benjamin Dacallos, PO3 Norman Abellanosa, PO1 Calixto Canillas Jr., PO1 Jerlan Cabiyaan, Insp. Lucrecito Canolosas, SPO2 Antonio Docil, SPO1 Mark Christian Cadilo, PO2 Jaime Bacsal, PO2 John Ruel Doculan, SPO4 Juanito Duarte, PO1 Lloyd Ortigueza, Senior Insp. Fritz Blanco and PO1 Bhernard Orpilla.
All were accused for the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa and Raul Yap inside the Leyte subprovincial jail in Baybay City on November 5 last year.
The CIDG personnel were to serve a warrant against the two for alleged possession of firearms.
Admitting that the incident has tarnished the public image of the CIDG, Aguillon said that he will now focus on internal cleansing and ensure that no member of the agency would be involved in any illegal act.
“We want our people to learn and trust the police again and that we are trying to impose a stricter selection process during police hiring and a stricter family background check among applicants,” he said.
Aguillon is also pushing to improve the spirituality of the CIDG personnel by having a mass every Friday and to professionalize the organization by adopting law enforcement standards.
This would mean that their personnel will have to undergo refresher courses on criminal procedure, interview techniques, and intelligence, he said.
The CIDG chief is encouraging the public to report to them any police officer that is involved in any illegal activities and assure them that he will immediately act on them.
For now, CIDG is now focusing on its campaign against illegal drugs, loose firearms, private armed groups, wanted personalities in the region and campaign against other forms of criminality.
(JAZMIN BONIFACIO)
