No sacred cow in law enforcement – PNP chief

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa acknowledged the fact that the police organization has been accused of being unfair in its implementation and enforcement of laws.

“But time and again, we always showed to the people na wala kaming sinasanto pagdating sa implementation kasi nga dapat when you implement a law, it’s for everybody,” Gamboa said in a press conference during his visit to the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 headquarters in Iloilo City on Wednesday.

The country’s top cop made the comment relative to the case of the so-called “rich kids” or RK, who participated in a controversial pool party on June 6, 2020 in an Iloilo City hotel.

Despite public appeals to identify the persons seen on photos and videos of the party that was held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has yet to get hold of their names.

Some accused the local police of not having a concrete action to run against the partygoers.

Saying that he was not aware of the details of the case, Gamboa talked about accusations on alleged biases against policemen.

But he defended them by saying that they are generally fair in implementing the law.

“It’s even prohibited to enact a law for certain classes of society. Laws are promulgated for implementation equally to all the people, immaterial of their social standing,” he said.

Gamboa said that it is “a general guideline I sent to all PNP units and I guess everybody understands that.”

He then asked Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, to deal with the RK case.

 

‘PURSUE THE PROBE’

Pamuspusan said Police Colonel Eric Dampal, Iloilo City police chief, has already given his commitment that he would pursue the investigation.

“I’m waiting for the formal result [of the investigation],” he said.

He also assured the public that once the investigation is finished, he would release the result.

 

IDENTIFICATION OF “ANAK-MAYAMAN”

Last week, Police Major Francisco Paguia, Iloilo City Police Station 1, said that investigators are still identifying the so-called rich kids.

But Paguia claimed to have received information that those who participated in the Wanderpool Bar party event on June 6 were not necessarily “anak-mayaman.”

“But that’s beside the point. There was a violation of an ordinance and they must be held answerable to that,” he said.

Paguia said the bar owner, a certain Carol Sanchez, has refused to identify the participants to the “by invitation only” celebration that took place at The Castle Hotel in Bonifacio Drive, City Proper, Iloilo City.

The partygoers could be charged for violating Regulation Ordinance No. 2020-066 (An Ordinance Implementing Physical Distancing as a Response Measure to Prevent the spread and/or local transmission of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease (COVID-19) In Iloilo City).

The ordinance imposes a mere P500 fine on violators.

Paguia said it might be a long shot to pursue a case for violation of Republic Act 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act).

“But we would look into that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gamboa again encouraged local government units to enact ordinances to punish quarantine violators.

“This is to give a lesson to everybody. No need to charge them with a national law for the first offense. It would still be shameful on the part because they would have a police record,” he said.

An ordinance breach is still a criminal offense and it would form part of the record.

“The people should understand the consequences even if it’s just an ordinance,” Gamboa said.