Rapiz hits RIAS ‘motu proprio’ probe, likens move to ‘crucifixion’
Suspended top cop Police Chief Inspector Leroy Rapiz is seeking for the immediate lifting of the 90-day preventive suspension ordered by police higher-ups.
Submitted and now pending before Police Regional Office (PRO) 6, Rapiz through counsel, lawyer Tranquilino Gale filed the “Urgent Motion.”
The administrative proceedings, Rapiz said has “totally no legal basis nor any valid reason” particularly in placing him under preventive suspension.
Docketed as Admin. Case No. IAS-FRO0-0017, Rapiz argued that “clearly and indisputably,” with the earlier exoneration made by superiors on the complaints he was charged, the matter should be deemed approved, final and executory.
To note, the RIAS as per independent mandate pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 8551 conducted the moto proprio investigation relative to the illegal checkpoints blamed on Rapiz. RA 8551 is otherwise known as the Philippine National Police Reform Act.
“It can be safely stated without any cloud of doubt, that the complaints investigated by RIAS 6, which is presently the subject of the instant case, were already found wanting, unsubstantiated and baseless by the former disciplinary authority over the respondent …,” the Urgent Motion went. “It is very tragic, devastating and deeply demoralizing upon the respondent to be subjected to another so-called “motu proprio”investigation by an agency within the same Philippine National Police (PNP) organization… As it is happening now, it appears that there is no end to the “crucifixion”, so to speak, of the respondent due to his zeal and resoluteness in performing his assigned official tasks and duties without fear or favor.”
Rapiz further questioned the authority of RIAS probers saying the pre-charge investigator “does not have the legal authority nor the power to reverse or modify the findings…”
“This will create chaos and disorder within the PNP organization. Certainly it will set a dangerous and ludicrous precedent whereby a subordinate officer (a mere PO3) will review, reverse and/or modify the judgment of his superior officer…..In truth and in fact, this was exactly what was done by RIAS Pre-Charge Investigator PO3 Vicente Silla,” Rapiz averred as he went on to asked, “Where is sanity, order and justice?”
Rapiz in concluding his Urgent Motion maintained that the preventive suspension as ordered “is highly illegal, unjust, unfair and unreasonable and must therefore be not sanctioned and allowed to happen in the PNP organization.”
Copies of the Urgent Motion were furnished to RIAS higher-ups and PRO 6 lawyer Aaron Lirazan.