Relief ordered amid investigation
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has relieved 13 personnel from its Highway Patrol Group (HPG) following an alleged confrontation with Bureau of Customs (BoC) agents in Sta. Maria, Bulacan. The relief, ordered over the weekend by HPG Director Brig. Gen. Rommel Batangan, comes as authorities investigate the incident.
The personnel, from the HPG's Regional Highway Patrol Unit-National Capital Region, included its chief, Col. Joey Tomas Caise, and 12 subordinates. Caise has been reassigned to the human resource management and doctrine development division at Camp Crame in Quezon City, while the others were transferred to an administrative holding unit.
PNP spokesperson PCol. Allen Rae Co said the relief was intended to ensure a fair and impartial investigation and to prevent those involved from influencing the process. "We would like to make it clear that the relief ordered by the Chief PNP does not mean that they were found guilty or of any wrongdoing," Co said during a press briefing. He added: "It is to pave the way for a fair and impartial investigation that cannot be influenced by the very people involved. It is not right for you to investigate yourself."
What happened in Bulacan
The incident occurred during a raid on a BoC warehouse in Bulacan where personnel were reportedly caught burning smuggled cigarettes. Initial reports said a confrontation ensued between the two groups during the destruction of confiscated cigarettes.
Brig. Gen. Batangan said in a statement: "We recognize the seriousness of the allegations and have taken immediate steps to ensure that the incident is properly investigated."
Journalist Ramon Tulfo, in a report carried by philstar.com, said HPG personnel disarmed and held Customs agents at gunpoint to interfere with the destruction of the cigarettes at an incineration plant. Tulfo also said Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno had alerted top PNP officials following the incident. The report did not name a source for these details beyond Tulfo's account. The Manila Times, meanwhile, said the BoC maintained it was only conducting routine destruction of evidence, a practice of lawful regulated disposal of physical evidence that usually involves drugs, loose firearms, and similar items.
The HPG operation was reportedly conducted as a buy-bust operation, and initial reports said it was triggered by information about an alleged sale of smuggled goods involving Customs personnel.
Questions over jurisdiction
A key focus of the investigation is why the HPG-NCR carried out the operation in Bulacan rather than the local police unit or a more fitting unit such as the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). Co noted that the HPG's primary function is traffic enforcement, security, and anti-carnapping operations, and that anti-smuggling is not among the PNP's primary functions.
"This will form part of the investigation to be conducted. They will be given a chance, everyone is entitled to due process, to air their side," Co said. He also said there may be instances where HPG can continue an operation involving suspected contraband if it originated from a highway.
Co said both sides must be heard and that it is premature to preempt the result. A local police unit is expected to conduct the initial investigation, while the Chief PNP will determine who will be designated as lead investigator.
Those relieved
Besides Col. Caise, the relieved officers include Lt. Col. Carlo Carreon Lonosa, described as the alleged leader of the group, as well as Maj. Romar Amparo Exile; M/Sergeants Dennis Attaban Ancheta, Jake Cleopas Balberde and Bryan Nicol Castillo; Corporals Melvin Da-Ut Habbiling, Edrick Prologo Semilla and Reneboy Puno Sumbilon; and Patrolmen Gabriel Darole Capellan, Jefrey Buela Carilo, Bill Anthony Birao Estrada and Andrew Bernardino Marzan.