Supt. Marcos and company to go after ISIS in C. Mindanao

Controversial Police Superintendent Marvin Marcos and some of his men will be tasked to go after the local allies of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Central Mindanao where some of them were reassigned.

Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos, spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Marcos’ new task comes with his designation as head of Central Mindanao’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

“Director (Roel) Obusan specifically said that their function is on BIFF-ISIS areas. It is where their work would focus,” said Carlos.

Obusan is the head of the CIDG. The BIFF, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, is a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which is now being accused of colluding with the ISISback Maute Group.

Marcos return to duty was met with criticisms by the allies of President Duterte who himself brought up the issue of the official’s return to his work as a police officer.

Marcos and his men were accused of killing Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa inside a detention facility which was raided by the CIDG Eastern Visayas.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa defended the action to put back Marcos and his men on an active duty status, saying they all underwent due process.

But despite their return to active duty, Carlos said they are not yet off the hook as the criminal cases leveled against them will still push through. The Department of Justice earlier downgraded the murder case filed against Marcos and his men to homicide.

Marcos and his men, however, have filed a motion for reconsideration on the penalties slapped on them in connection with the Espinosa killing last year in Baybay City.

Based on the approved recommendation of the IAS, Marcos was meted with four-month suspension while most of his men were punished with one rank demotion.

“The motion for reconsideration is yet to be decided,” said Carlos.

The motion for reconsideration was filed before the Directorate for Personnel Records and Management (DPRM). The decision is expected to be out next week.

Case dismissed The administrative cases filed against the officers and members of the Maritime Group in Eastern Visayas who were present during the Baybay City Jail raid were dismissed.

The dismissal stemmed from the arguments of the Maritime Group personnel that they only served as back-up forces after their assistance was sought by the CIDG.

They were Chief Insp. Calixto Canillas, head of the Maritime Group Eastern Visayas, his deputy Senior Insp. Lucrecito Candilosas, and his men SPO2 Antonio Docil, Mark Christian Cadilo, PO2 John Ruel Ducolan and PO2 Jaime Bacsal.

No hard feelings

Carlos said they understand the sentiment of some people, including former PNP chief and now Sen. Panfilo Lacson, on Marcos and his men’s return to active duty status.

“We respect that, that’s their right. But they must also understand that this is our established procedure. We do not go out of our established procedure, it just so happened that it became favorable to the accused policemen,” said Carlos.