(Eagle News) — Philippine National Police Chief Director Ronald dela Rosa denied President Rodrigo Duterte had a hand in the reinstatement of Supt. Marvin Marcos and 18 of his men, saying the chief executive’s public pronouncements did not have an effect on his decision.
“Your Honor, kung basehan natin yung pinagsasabi ni Presidente, your Honor, it has not affected our decision. Because for the record your honor, he (the President) did not call me up to give instructions (on) whether to absolve or to penalize Marcos. Hindi po siya nakialam, Your Honor,” Dela Rosa told senators in a joint hearing of the committees on public order and drugs, and on justice and human rights on Wednesday.
He said he came out with the decision to reinstate the men believed behind the 2016 deaths of drug suspects Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and Raul Yap “independent of” the President’s pronouncements that they be reinstated.
The policemen from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group had said Espinosa–the father of known druglord Kerwin Espinosa– and Yap had shot at them while they were implementing a search warrant in the Leyte jail where the two were detained, prompting them to retaliate.
According to Dela Rosa, Marcos and his men went through the necessary process.
“Dumaan siya sa proseso, nakapagbail sila..Kung titignan natin, kung inuuphold iyan sa ordinaryo, siguro dapat sa pati sa pulis din,” Dela Rosa said.
He said while he believed “something not so good” took place in Leyte, he believes the policemen who were part of the raiding team have already been sanctioned.
“Kaya sinuspende siya, kasamahan niya nademote,” he said.
Dela Rosa added the reinstatement of the policemen, who were “in the line of duty” at that time boosted the morale of the PNP.
