Cebu cops welcome probe
CEBU CITY – The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO 7) welcomed the move of the opposition senators that seeks investigation into the spate of killings in Metro Cebu as a result of an intensified anti-illegal drug operation.
“We are ready to face any investigation. We welcome the call for an investigation so that we can also explain our side,” said Supt. Reyman Tolentin, information officer of PRO 7.
In a press release sent by the camp of detained Senator Leila de Lima, senators belonging to the minority bloc filed Senate Resolution no. 915, which calls for “an immediate investigation into the recent spate of killings in Cebu under the ‘one-time, big-time’ (OTBT) anti-illegal drug operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP).”
In the resolution, the opposition senators said they are gravely concerned about the recent wave of killings in Cebu due to the involvement of some police officers.
"The allegation that police officers themselves are behind some of the killings is highly disturbing," they said.
In filing the resolution, the minority bloc reminded the police to observe proper procedures when conducting police operations.
"As duty bearers, the PNP must observe proper operational procedures in order to fulfill the organization's obligation with respect to human rights-based policing," the statement read.
The minority bloc also cited the previous pronouncements of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña that the killings in Metro Cebu started to rise when PRO 7 Director Debold Sinas and Cebu City police chief Royina Garma assumed their respective posts.
But Tolentin said the police are ready to defend themselves should the Senate investigation push through.
“We are just doing our job. There have been casualties but they were legitimate police operations,” Tolentin said.
OTBT is an anti-criminality campaign where police operations are held simultaneously in various places.
Last Oct. 4, nine persons were killed when various police units conducted OTBT in Metro Cebu.
The PRO 7 has said that those who were killed resisted arrest that forced the police to retaliate.