Cuevas justifies Rapiz relief
Chief Superintendent Isagani Cuevas, Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 Director addressed anew questions on the relief of one of Iloilo’s top cop.
With a joint “top level” investigation underway, Cuevas justified and explained as necessary the “back to barracks” order on Police Chief Inspector Leroy Rapiz.
Rapiz is back on the limelight again barely weeks since news got out of a 90-day preventive suspension for grave misconduct and gross incompetence in the performance of duties. It was not immediately clear why the said suspension was never carried out as approved by the Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS).
The latest Rapiz ‘mis-event’ though was reported as a near-shoot out between said controversial cop and the mayor of Estancia, Iloilo.
Cuevas in an interview yesterday with Defense reporters said among the witness accounts that will be validated was the reported challenge made by Rapiz to the mayor for a gunfight.
Whatever provoked Rapiz, Cuevas said, will likewise be investigated while saying that among the possible administrative charge is conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
Meantime Rapiz remains in ‘seclusion,’ and far away from his former post as Deputy Director of the 608th Iloilo Provincial Mobile Group. At the time of the Estancia incident though, Rapiz was apparently acting as personal bodyguard of Fifth District Congressman Niel Tupas Jr. Numerous witnesses recalled seeing Rapiz in civilian clothes with a gun visibly tucked on his side holster.
“We do not want the witnesses to be under harassment or forced intimidation,” Cuevas said.
The joint investigation is under the helm of the RIAS and the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD).
In a related development, The News Today (TNT) learned that days after his relief, Rapiz went on a three-day “sick leave.” He said that he is suffering from Respiratory Tract Infection thus the “sick leave” that started Wednesday till Friday. TNT further gathered that Rapiz also filed for a weeklong “mandatory leave” that will start on Monday till Friday. Said leave though awaits approval of Chief Superintendent Cuevas.