NDF consultant killed in legitimate ops: PNP

MANILA

MANILA – Authorities from the Bureau of Cus toms (BOC) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have foiled an attempt to smuggle different wildlife species declared as “lego toys” from Malaysia.

This, after the BOC warehouse in Pasay City port of Ninoy Aquino International on Friday. Airport, with Port of NAIA District the Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Collector Carmelita Unit (WTMU) of Talusan on Saturday said DENR, apprehended the the package declared as claimant of a package “lego toys” came from containing various wildlife Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. species in Fedex Upon examination, it

– Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Saturday welcomed the “good news” that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved lowering the height limit for police and other uniformed per sonnel .

During his commentary show “Counterpoint,” Panelo said the country will have more competent law enforcers following the adjustment of height requirements.

“Magandang balita ito kasi hindi ba gustong pumasok ng pulis pero hindi nila makuha ‘yung taas (That is good news because many are aspiring to be police officers but they could not reach the height requirement),” Panelo said.

On Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA)11549 which lowers the minimum height requirement for male applicants of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) from 1.62 meters (5-foot-3) to 1.57 meters (5-foot1).

Female applicants standing at least 1.52 meters (4-foot-9) can was discovered that 20 sulcata tortoises, 10 razorback turtles, one red bearded dragon, two corn snakes, and eight savanna lizards were concealed with toys.

The BOC said both the claimant and the consignee will face charges for Illegal importation of wildlife species under Section 1113 in relation to Section 117 virus this week, the highest of which was from May 25 when a total of 143 were added to the case count after an update from a country in Europe. The DFA did not release its regular reports from May 26 to 28.

The death toll, on the other hand, rose by 11 from 1,168 (May 16 to 22) to 1,179 this week.

Since the pandemic started, a total of 19,720 Filipinos overseas have been afflicted by respiratory disease, of which 60.87 percent are recoveries, 33.15 percent are active cases, and 5.98 percent are fatalities. now apply, down from the former 1.57-meter requirement.

Under the new law, a waiver for height requirements will be automatically granted to applicants belonging to cultural communities or indigenous peoples.

“Kung magagaling naman, [qualified] naman sa other requirements ng batas, bakit naman natin hindi papayagang magpulis? Sayang naman. Sayang ang talino. Sayang yung maaaring itulong nila (If they are competent and qualified based on the law’s requirements, why would we prohibit them and 1401 of Republic Act 10863 or "Customs Modernization and Tariff Act" and Sec. 27 of RA 9147 or “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.”

The BOC through the leadership of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero is in agreement with DENR to uphold wildlife protection and its conservation.

( PNA) from being a cop? Their intelligence and ability to help would go to waste, if they are not accepted),” Panelo said.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, said RA 11459 merely lowered the height requirement for aspiring uniformed personnel but “not the competence.”

He said new applicants who will benefit from the new law would still be subject to the “highest standards required”.

“The highest degree of patriotism and honor shall still be expected of them,” he said in a statement.

– Reynaldo Bocala, a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF), was killed in a "legitimate" operation covered by arrest warrants, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said on Sunday.

Eleazar took exception to latest allegations that police operatives planted evidence on Bocala, who was killed in Barangay Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo emphasizing that the law enforcers were there to arrest the NDF consultant based on court-issued warrants on Friday night.

"Ang pagtatanim ng ebidensya ay lagi nang paratang sa ating kapulisan kahit gaano pa kalehitimo ang mga operasyon (Planting of evidence has been the constant accusations even if our police have legitimate operations). In this case, our policemen served arrest warrants against Bocala but Bocala and his companion resisted,” Eleazar said in a press statement.

He said the police operatives also have the right to protect themselves.

“Hindi naman pwedeng tumayo lang doon ang mga operatiba at hindi man lang proteksyunan ang kanilang mga sarili kung ganoong, ayon sa inisyal na report, ay naging agresibo ang suspek (The operatives cannot just stand there and not even protect themselves if, according to the initial report, the suspect acted aggressively),” he added.

Open to any probe

Eleazar said the PNP is open to any probe and it is within the rights of Bocala’s relatives and colleagues to seek an independent investigation.

Rights group Karapatan has called for an independent probe on the incident, claiming that Bocala should still be under the protection of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

“If they want an independent probe, so be it. Bukas po ang PNP doon. Pero gaya ng sa ibang kaso, papasok ang Internal Affairs Service dito para magsagawa ng motu proprio investigation upang alamin kung may pagkukulang ang mga operatiba kaya humantong sa pagkamatay ng suspek (PNP is open to it.

But like other cases, the Internal Affairs Service would conduct moto proprio investigation if the operatives committed lapses that led to the death of the suspect),” Eleazar said.

He said part of the PNP Internal Affair Service’s (IAS) duty is to look into the complaints of Bocala’s relatives and companions.

“Kung ano man ang magiging findings at rekomendasyon ng IAS ay base sa mga pahayag at ebidensyang makakalap nito (Whatever the findings and recommendation of the IAS, these would be based on the statement and gathered evidence),” Eleazar said.

Police operatives of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), backed by military personnel, served arrest warrants issued by different courts against Bocala at his known location in Iloilo.

According to police reports, Bocala resisted arrest and fired at the policemen, triggering a shootout with the suspect and his companion. Both died in the encounter.

“With the termination of peace negotiations with the CPP/ NPA/ NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines/ New People’s Army/ NDF), this JASIG can no longer be invoked. This guarantee of immunity from arrest is an act of good faith and confidence-building measure in the peace negotiations between the government and the CPP/ NPA/ NDF,” he stressed.

Eleazar said the NDF negotiators and consultants went into hiding after President Rodrigo Duterte terminated the JASIG in February 2017.

Bocala carried a PHP4.8 million bounty for cases of robbery in band with frustrated homicide and damage to property with the use of motor vehicle and unlicensed firearms; robbery with serious physical injuries; violation of Presidential Decree 1744 (Destructive Arson); and murder.

He was the husband of Maria Concepcion “Concha” Araneta, who is the deputy secretary of Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay.

Before being head of the Regional Taxation Implementing Group, Bocala, according to the PRO6, was also secretary and deputy secretary of the Southern Front Committee of the Panay Regional Party Committee.

Also killed during the operation was Bocala’s alleged aide, Willy Epago (alias Ramon). Both were declared dead on the spot.

The CPP-NPA, which has been waging a fivedecade armed struggle against the government, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.