Salcedo, Garin laud PNP Internal Affairs’ Rapiz indictment, suspension
After all the hullabaloo and dissension caused by the controversial ‘police’ operations of a top cop in Northern Iloilo, officials here welcomed last week’s action from the Police Internal Affairs Office.
Slapped with a 90-day preventive suspension was Police Chief Inspector Leroy Rapiz, group director of the 4thIloilo Provincial Mobile Group (IPMG) of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO). The Rapiz preventive suspension came after an indictment over grave misconduct or malfeasance in office and gross incompetence in the performance of duties.
The indictment was reached following a motu propio investigation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Iloilo Provincial Internal Affairs Service (IPIAS) with recommendations approved by the PNP Regional Internal Affairs.
For Ex-officio Board Member Jeneda Salcedo, justice is being served and one that conveyed a clear message for all law enforcers.
“It’s a legal precedent to all law enforcement officers to give paramount respect to constitutionally guaranteed rights of every citizen which by their oath they are bound to uphold far beyond the dictates of politics and power, “ Salcedo in a message sent to The News Today (TNT) said. “Police officers should not make themselves as political tools to sow terror to ordinary citizens out rightly disregarding basic human rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.”
To note, Rapiz has since been subject of numerous complaints in Northern Iloilo, the 4thIPMG’s jurisdiction. Foremost of his actions questioned were his spot police checkpoints and “stop and frisk operations.”
Salcedo took the matter before the provincial board in a privilege speech that lambasted Rapiz on what she termed was “rape of the rights” of locals in her district. A legislative investigation was then conducted by the Committee on Public Order and Safety with call for Rapiz’ dismissal from service. All of the committee’s findings and recommendations on Rapiz fell on deaf ears. Until his own peers in the police service handed out last week’s indictment.
To note, among the evidences used by the IPIAS was the committee report alongside new set of affidavits cum complaints against Rapiz.
“I commend the Resolution passed by the 9thSangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) under Board Member Richard Garin. It was very transparent and with legal basis. I believe that was one of the reasons our PNP was enlightened on what truly happened and came up with such Resolution of a 90 day preventive suspension for Rapiz,” Salcedo added.
Similar sentiments shared by Board Member Garin, committee chair when reached for comment on the Rapiz indictment.
Garin for his part stressed that with the committee’s job done and attention given to the complaints then lodged against Rapiz, last week’s Internal Affairs decision is “a very welcomed development.”
“We have nothing personal against Chief Inspector Rapiz. What we have against was his police operations that were validated by the committee as unjust. And those acts were subject of numerous complaints from the people he vowed to protect. So now we welcome the results of the motu propio investigation with the objective that any wrongdoings will be corrected and justice served to the victims,” Garin said.
The IPIAS was blunt with its findings – probable cause warranted the Rapiz indictment.
“The acts of Major Rapiz in bringing 20-30 armed men in combat uniforms and conducting a stop and frisk operation in the streets and terminal of Sara, Iloilo without any probable cause for suspicion whatsoever, exhibit his intense disrespect for the law and his ignorance of the workings of the law and the significance of human rights,” the four-paged IPIAS report/memorandum went. “It can be adduced from the acts of PCINSP Leroy Rapiz that he honestly believes that as a police officer, he can virtually rummage through the persons of the Complainants and the persons of everybody whenever he wishes without considering their constitutionally-founded rights.”
Not valid and legal warrantless search, the IPIAS also considered the Rapiz acts. And such correspondingly translated into grave misconduct or malfeasance and gross incompetence.
For the IPIAS, both violations were “readily apparent from the acts and demeanor of Major Leroy Rapiz.”
As for the 90-day preventive suspension, justification was made by pre-charge investigator Police Officer III Vicente Silla saying “the charge is serious or grave and the evidence of guilt is strong…..”