ILOILO CITY — The National Police Commission 6 (Napolcom-6) has launched a parallel investigation into the controversial raid conducted by the Philippine National Police’s Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) at Iloilo City Police Station 4 in Molo, describing the operation as a “high-profile” incident that could have implications for the entire police organization in the region.
Napolcom-6 personnel and Police Regional Office 6 acting director BGen. Randulf Tuaño visited the Molo police station on Thursday, July 2, to inspect the scene and obtain the accounts of officers who were on duty when IMEG operatives searched the station for a dismissed police officer facing an arrest warrant.
“We went here directly at the station because Napolcom considers this a high-profile incident,” said Naplocom-6 spokesperson Atty. Michelle Yotoko.
Yotoko said the inspection was ordered by the regional director to independently verify what transpired because the incident concerns the credibility of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Western Visayas.
“This is a mandate on our part to verify, monitor and investigate the alleged police anomalies and irregularities,” she said.
Investigators of Napolcom-6 are now gathering official documents, reports, affidavits, testimonies, and other pieces of evidence from those involved before determining whether any administrative violations were committed.
“We cannot say for sure who did the right thing, who had lapses,” Yotoko added.
She also disclosed that intelligence reports received by Napolcom alleged that the dismissed police officer had been frequenting Police Station 4 and was allegedly being utilized in police operations despite being no longer part of the PNP.
“That is a serious allegation — harboring criminals, and considering that they are the police, they have the mandate to arrest wanted criminals or those who were issued a warrant of arrest,” Yotoko emphasized.
For his part, Tuaño said his visit to the station was intended to hear the side of the station personnel before drawing any conclusions.
Among the issues under investigation are allegations that officers assigned to Police Station 4 were ordered to lie face down, were temporarily disarmed, and had their mobile phones confiscated while IMEG operatives searched the premises for the fugitive former policeman.
“That will be investigated, and we will get the side of the story of the Police Station 4,” he said, noting that IMEG has already explained that their operation was legitimate.
The operation also drew criticism after a barangay captain and a member of the media, who had reportedly been summoned as witnesses for a supposed anti-drug operation, alleged that they were also held at gunpoint during the raid.
Tuaño said private individuals who claimed they were threatened during the operation remain free to pursue separate complaints regardless of the outcome of the PNP’s internal investigation.
“Nothing will preclude these individuals from filing individual cases different from the possible cases that the PNP will see,” he said.
Asked whether IMEG still had jurisdiction over a dismissed police officer, Tuaño said the matter would also be examined as part of the investigation.
“We recognize the mandate of IMEG, especially in arresting individuals and in cleaning the PNP,” he said.
The PRO-6 chief emphasized that no cases will be immediately filed against IMEG personnel while the investigation is ongoing.
“We do not want to give a conclusion if they are right or wrong, whether they have jurisdiction or not, until we obtain all sides,” he said.
Tuano said no cases will be filed outright to the IMEG pending the investigation.
“[We are here] so the investigation can move forward. After the investigation, that is when we will determine the next steps,” he said.