Six Aklan cops face summary hearing on alleged brutality

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Not four, but six police officers of Aklan Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG) were involved in the alleged brutality against an arrested drug pusher in Kalibo, Aklan. 

The six uniformed police officers were recommended by the Provincial Internal Affairs Service (PIAS) for summary hearing for allegedly mauling 27-year old Reijie Rose last July 13.  

PIAS Aklan chief Senior Inspector Eugenio Dionisio Jr. said he will submit the case folder containing the pre-charge evaluation report to Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) 6 in Iloilo City this week. 

Pre-charge evaluation is a process to determine the existence of probable cause based on the allegations on the complaint and supporting evidence.

Two weeks after the incident, Police Inspector Wilfredo Hofilena, chief of Aklan PAIDSOTG; Police Officer 3 Allan dela Cruz; Police Officer 1 Lloyd Raymundo and Police Officer 1 Rolando Dano were initially named as respondents by evaluator-on –the-case Police Officer 3 Pelegrino Palomar, Jr. 

Police Officer 2 Lovely Joy Raut-Raut and Police Officer 2 Gil Resoles were also included in the pre-charge evaluation report based on the submitted affidavit of Rose. 

“How Rose was mauled, manhandled and where he was brought by the police officers from 12:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. of July 13 were detailed by him in his affidavit. Alicia, her mother, also executed her affidavit,” Dionisio said. 

‘NOT YET GUILTY’

For all administrative cases, the summary hearing officer of RIAS has at most sixty days to resolve the case  and within thirty 30 days for the disciplinary authority also to render a decision/approval based on the recommendation of the hearing officer.

Upon receipt of the case folder, the summary hearing officer will issue summons to the police officers within three days.  The respondents will be required also to file their answer within five days from receipt of the summons.

If they failed to submit their answer within five days, it will be considered a general denial of the offense by the respondents. The summary hearing officer will then summon the complainant and the police officers for the pre-hearing conference which should be completed within two days.  

The marking of evidences, hearing dates for the hearing proper and number of witnesses will be determined also during the pre-hearing conference.  

The respondents may be dismissed, demoted from the service if found guilty.

‘BUY-BUST OPERATION’

Rose is facing charges for illegal selling and possession of suspected shabu after he was apprehended by PAIDSOTG in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tigayon, Kalibo, Aklan on July 13.

He was brought at Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital for treatment for multiple injuries secondary to mauling with facial bone fracture, abrasion hematoma on left forearm, upper lip, multiple abrasions on right elbow, right and left knee and superficial hematoma face. 

On July 18, Rose was transferred to a Iloilo City hospital for medical examination. He is now presently detained at the provincial jail in Barangay Nalook, Kalibo, Aklan.