PRO 7 willing to help with CHR’s probes
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) 7 can conduct its own investigation on the deaths of police officers in legitimate operations, according to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director.
However, the PRO 7 cannot give records right away to the CHR 7, said Chief Supt. Debold Sinas.
“Kon gusto sila mangayo, mananghid mi sa Crame (If they need documents, we still need to ask national headquarters for permission to release these),” he told reporters.
The CHR 7 has urged law enforcement agencies to cooperate in its investigations.
CHR 7 Director Arvin Odron reminded law enforcers that their office is mandated to investigate alleged abuses committed by government forces.
Odron said that part of the procedure in verifying human rights abuses is asking for public records containing investigation reports made by the local police or any law enforcement agency.
“Highly compliant”
If law enforcers, especially those suspected of committing human rights abuses, withhold these documents, they are doing a disservice to the public, he said.
“Law enforcers are supposed to be our partners in the enforcement of human rights. If they don’t cooperate, then they are not true to their mandate in enforcing the law, including those governing human rights,” Odron told SunStar Cebu yesterday.
Odron said that he is glad that majority of law enforcement agencies in Central Visayas are “highly compliant” when it comes to their queries on alleged human rights abuses.
But if they encounter law enforcement agencies that refuse to divulge public documents and even cooperate with their investigation, Odron said they can initiate contempt proceedings against the said office but only as a last resort.
Two active officers were killed in legitimate operations in the region in 17 days.
Last Wednesday morning, SPO1 Adonis Dumpit was shot dead in an encounter with operatives from the PRO 7-Regional Intelligence Division (RID) and the National Bureau of Investigation 7-Bohol in Barangay San Isidro, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
Last June 10, Senior Insp. Raymond Hortezuela was killed in an alleged shootout with operatives of Counter Intelligence Task Force and the RID 7.
Two other police officers were shot dead by unidentified assailants---PO3 Jonathan Tilos last June 13 and PO2 Melchizedek Batomalaque last June 19.
The special investigation task group of the Cebu Provincial Police Office convened yesterday to discuss developments of their inquiries on the deaths of Batomalaque and Tilos.