IMEG raid probe may clarify Iloilo police dispute

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The ongoing investigations into the controversial “raid” conducted by heavily armed members of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group at the Iloilo City Police Station 4 on the afternoon of July 1 could clarify questions surrounding the operation.

Instead of answers, more questions have emerged over the operation, which involved IMEG personnel and support from members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force.

The investigations being conducted by the Police Regional Office 6 Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division and the National Police Commission 6 are expected to determine whether police protocols were followed.

Among the issues being examined are whether the PNP standard operating procedures were observed, whether interunit coordination was properly conducted, and whether there were lapses by police personnel involved in the incident.

Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño, Western Visayas police chief, stressed that there was no question about the legitimacy of the operation.

“The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 recognized that it was a legitimate operation. Ang ating pong iniimbestigahan po ngayon ay yung usaping inter-unit coordination. Kaya ayaw po nating pre-judge yung pong investigation na isinasagawa ng R7 (RIDMD),” he said.

The RIDMD-6, headed by Col. Kim Legada, is expected to submit a recommendation within the week.

Tuaño said the recommendation would help determine whether any protocol was violated.

He stressed, however, that the result of the RIDMD-6 investigation would only be a recommendation.

The RIDMD-6 is also looking into the possible criminal and administrative aspects of the incident.

“Kung saka-sakaling man ay may pagkakamali, we wouldn’t condone it,” Tuaño assured.

Tuaño confirmed that he spoke with IMEG director Brig. Gen. Rex Arvin Malimban immediately after the incident.

Malimban apparently received a different version of events from what ICPS 4 personnel had claimed.

IMEG personnel, supported by SAF members, entered ICPS 4 following a tip that a wanted former policeman was hiding inside the precinct.

The former policeman, earlier identified only by the alias Jerry, was later identified by the Britanico family as dismissed policeman Jerry Villanueva.

Villanueva was not found inside the police station. He instead surrendered to Tuaño shortly after midnight on July 5.

In a statement dated July 6, the Britanico family welcomed the implementation of the warrant of arrest and Villanueva’s surrender.

The family said Villanueva, along with fugitive former policeman Joseph Andrew Joven, has a warrant of arrest in connection with the killing of Delfin Britanico in La Paz, Iloilo City, on Jan. 19, 2020.

“Delfin Britanico was simply taking a Sunday drive on his motorcycle when his life was tragically cut short. He was a collateral victim after an extrajudicial killing planned and implemented by police officers minutes before he came across them. No innocent person should ever lose his life under such circumstances. No Filipino should be murdered with impunity,” the family said.

The family described Villanueva’s surrender as an important milestone in its pursuit of justice.

“We are grateful to the Philippine National Police-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) and all those who ensure that individuals like Villanueva are held accountable for their unlawful actions,” the family said.

The family also questioned why a dismissed policeman with a pending criminal case was allegedly involved in police operations of the Molo police station and still had his service firearm years after his dismissal.

“Our family’s quest for justice does not end with this surrender. We look forward to the lawful arrest, prosecution, and accountability of all those responsible, including individuals who have planned, ordered, directed, carried out, covered up, or otherwise participated in the crime of the killing of Delfin,” the family said.

“We remain confident in the rule of law and trust that the judicial process will uncover the full truth,” it added.

The family said it prayed that everyone responsible for Britanico’s killing would be held accountable.

Tuaño said he was also aware of allegations that Villanueva had been used in buy-bust operations.

Villanueva used to be a member of the PNP Regional Intelligence Division and the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit.

Tuaño said Villanueva denied the allegations during their conversation.

Still, Tuaño said the claims would be included in the investigation.

He said investigators would also look into the time when IMEG claimed it conducted interunit coordination and compare it with the time the police station operation took place.

“That’s part of the investigation: if there was a coordination or if the coordination was done after or before the incident,” he said.

Tuaño said he hoped all parties involved would take lessons from what happened.