President-elect Rodrigo Duterte says he will leave the fate of the captive police official on the hands of the New People’s Army. The NPA said they found Police Chief Inspector Arnold Ongachen in possession of illegal drugs during the raid it launched at the Governor Generoso Municipal Police Station in Davao Oriental on May 29. (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY — The Police Regional Office 11 said that the New People’s Army attack at the police station in Governor Generoso town, Davao Oriental should be a lesson to policemen on duties.
“Let the attack on Governor Generoso [municipal police station] serve as a warning and a lesson to chiefs of police/PNP personnel who relax their guard despite threats, who are not doing their job well, or those who are involved in irregularities,” the PRO 11 said in a statement.
The PRO 11 said “the PNP does not tolerate nor condone any of its members from engaging in illegal activities.”
“We welcome the investigation of PCI Arnold Ongachen as long as he is accorded due process as guaranteed under the Philippine Constitution, Universal Laws on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Laws,” it said.
In a press conference on Thursday night, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said he is leaving the fate of the police to his captors.
Duterte said the NPA asked him what they would do and he told the rebels to try the police in their “kangaroo court”.
“You try him and sentence him to 20 years hard labor,” he said.
Duterte also said that he will not rescue the police official.
But, the PRO 11 said while they respect and support Duterte’s statement, Ongachen should be accorded his human rights.
“Accord him his rights as a human being. No matter what good treatment you are claiming nothing can replace a person’s freedom if he has not done anything wrong,” the police office told the captors.
The PRO 11 also enjoined the public to name any member of the police force and present witnesses or evidence against anyone involved in illegal activities.
“We will apply the full force of the law and the disciplinary mechanisms of the PNP (and NAPOLCOM) against any erring police officer,” it said.
On May 29, the NPA raided the Governor Generoso Municipal Police Station and took Police Chief Inspector Arnold Ongachen as Prisoner of War, whom they also said was found possessing a sachet of shabu.
The NPA also said that they seized 11 firearms consisting of six M16 rifles, an M14 rifle, and five pistols during the raid. They said they targeted the police station based on reports from the residents that Gov. Generoso is “a gateway of illegal drug trade in the province” and that the protectors of the drug trafficking should be punished.(davaotoday.com)
