DOJ sets filing criminal charges in court vs 7 law enforcers in 2021 QC ‘misencounter’
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the ĸling of criminal charges in court against three Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents and four members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the Feb. 24, 2021 “misencounter” in Quezon City where three law enforcers died.
In a statement, the DOJ said its panel of prosecutors issued a resolution on May 2 approving the ĸling of homicide charges against PDEA agents Khee Maricar Rodas, Jeffrey Baguidudol, and Jelou Satiniaman, and direct assault charges against policemen P/Maj. Sandie Caparroso, P/Lt. Honey Besas, P/ SMsg. Melvin Merida, and P/Cpl. Paul Christian Gandeza.
At least 42,077 workers displaced by super typhoon “Odette” and the pandemic have been given emergency employment assistance in Northeastern Mindanao (The Caraga Region) by the government, a report said on Thursday, May 19.
A total of 22,070 workers in Surigao del Norte and Siargao Island and 1,189 workers in the Province of Dinagat Islands (PDI) have been given ĸnancial assistance amounting almost to ₱138 million under Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD.
“This humanitarian effort is a continuing program of the government,” DOLE-13 regional director Joffrey M. Suyao told The Manila Bulletin on Thursday.
DOLE 13 administrative assistant 1 and regional labor information officer Anya Pernelle B. Sollano said a total of ₱133,805,774 had been rolled out by the DOLE Surigao del Norte ĸeld office to Congressional Districts 1 and 2 (Siargao and Mainland Surigao del Norte) as salaries for the province’s workers displaced by Odette.
The rollout would beneĸt 22,070 workers under the TUPAD for the first quarter of 2022. Congressional District 1 received ₱71,363,310 fund allocation, which would go to 11,786 beneĸciaries, while Congressional District 2 was granted ₱54,442,464 for 8,108 beneĸciaries and the Provincial Office (PO) with ₱8,000,000 fund allocation for 2,176 beneĸciaries.
“The respective information (criminal charge sheets) against respondents will be filed at the proper courts in Quezon City,” the DOJ said.
It said the resolution was issued after the preliminary investigation conducted by the DOJ panel of prosecutors on the complaints separately ĸled by the PDEA and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which conducted separate investigations over the incident.
The case stemmed from the Feb. 24, 2021 ĸreĸght between PDEA agents and policemen who were conducting separate anti-illegal drugs buy-bust operations along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
The incident resulted in the deaths of PDEA agent Rankin Gano and policemen P/Cpl. Eric Elvin Garado and P/Cpl.
Lauro De Guzman.
“After evaluation of the evidence, the panel of prosecutors found sufĸcient evidence to charge respondent PDEA agents Rodas, Baguidudol, and Santiniaman for Homicide for the death of P/Cpl. Garado. With respect to the injuries sustained by the PDEA responders, there is sufficient evidence identifying some police officers who actually hit, struck, and mauled them. The afĸdavits of witnesses and the admissions of respondents during the clariĸcatory hearing, identify P/Cpl. Gandeza, P/Lt. Besas, P/Maj. Caparroso (2 counts), P/ SMsg. Merida as the assailants. Hence, there is probable cause to charge them for direct assault for the injuries sustained by the PDEA responders,” the DOJ said. “However, with respect to
“Each worker will receive a salary of ₱4,800 for 15 days of work and ₱3,200 for 10 days of work,” the DOLE 13 regional information officer said.
The province of Surigao del Norte was greatly affected by Typhoon Odette late last year. The implementation of TUPAD is a crucial means of ĸnancial assistance to the Surigaonons who lost their houses and properties and were physically and emotionally affected by the disaster.
“DOLE Caraga remains committed to continuously providing aid to these workers in the coming months,” added DOLE 13.
TUPAD is an institutionalized, communitybased amelioration program aimed at helping displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers during calamities, both natural and man-made.
Meanwhile, a total of ₱4,316,620.00 was also awarded to 1,189 beneĸciaries of TUPAD in PDI.
In addition to emergency employment, the DOLE 13 also turned over individual livelihoods to three beneĸciaries in that same province, Sollano said.
On the other hand, the DOLE released salaries amounting to ₱43,523,200 to 13,601 TUPAD beneĸciaries for 10 days of work. These salaries were released from April 8 to May 7, 2022 in various municipalities in Surigao del Sur.
The DOLE-Agusan del Norte Field Office (DOLE ADNFO) conducted a back-to-back TUPAD recently, releasing ₱13,752,000 as wages for the 2,232 TUPAD beneficiaries the death of P/Cpl. De Guzman, the charge against PDEA agent Romero Asuncion is dismissed on the ground that the firearm and caliber used to shoot P/ Cpl. De Guzman were never identified. Also, none of the evidence bullets or the spent cartridges found at the area (Zone E) matches agent Asuncion’s firearm. With respect to the death of Gano, the charge against P/Cpl. Alvin Borja is also dismissed. The medicolegal report and the ballistics from the nine barangays in Tubay, Agusan del Norte and 633 TUPAD beneĸciaries from the 25 barangays in Butuan City.
Even as the country is slowly recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, the DOLEAgusan del Sur Field Office (DOLE ADSFO) has not ceased providing assistance to displaced and affected workers in Agusan del Sur.
Initially, 2,352 workers received emergency employment assistance through the DOLE-Agusan del Sur Field Office TUPAD implementation. This translates to a total of ₱11,129,600 worth of salaries. On top of this, a package of assistance is awarded to beneĸciaries, which include personal protective equipment and accident insurance coverage for one year.
This year, emergency work of TUPAD beneĸciaries started as early as March and since April 28, DOLE ADSFO has released salaries to 778 TUPAD beneĸciaries from the municipalities of San Francisco, Esperanza, San Luis, Bunawan, Trento, and Bayugan City. The department continues to hold a series of onsite salary payments to address the transportation needs of beneĸciaries from far-Ĺung areas, Sollano said.
Amid the challenges of Covid-19, DOLE ADSFO also stood its ground for its clientele by immediately addressing their needs, with its frontliners working tirelessly to fulĸll the mandate given by the government and to serve the people of Agusan del Sur, Suyao said. examination by the NBI failed to identify the fatal shot at agent Gano. There is also no record showing that P/Cpl. Borja was the only one who actually shot at Gano.”
The panel of prosecutors also dismissed the other complaints of attempted homicide, falsification of official documents, robbery, conniving with, or consenting to evasion, arbitrary detention, sedition, and violation of the AntiTorture Act.
“As part of our unceasing commitment in ensuring the welfare of our Filipino workers, we at DOLE Caraga are continuously coordinating with our LGUs and partner agencies on providing assistance to Caraganons, especially those displaced by Covid-19 and Odette,” the region’s top DOLE 13 official pointed out.