Cops linked to Maguindanao massacre get suspension

(Update 2 - 5:39 PM) Sixty-two police officers implicated in the November 2009 massacre of 57 people in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao were placed under preventive suspension, the National Police Commission (Napolcom), a body tasked to probe police anomalies, said. The three-month suspension stemmed from a complaint filed by the families of the 13 slain journalists on March 10 that sought the police officers' dismissal for grave misconduct. The officers are facing separate murder charges before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC-RTC) for allegedly taking part in the Philippines' bloodiest election-related, single-day violence in recent years. The Philippine National Police (PNP) was directed to implement the suspension within five days upon receiving the order, as contained in a resolution signed by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno. Puno is also the Napolcom chairman. The resolution was announced to the media by Napolcom vice chairman Eduardo Escueta during a press conference at the Napolcom Central Office in Makati City on Friday. "A cursory examination of the records of this case indicates that the participation of the above-named respondents on the heinous massacre... is not only a crime punishable under the Revised Penal Code but is an atrocity worthy of preventive suspension," the order said. Among those suspended were Senior Superintendent Abusama Maguid, the former provincial police chief, Superintendent Bahnarin Kamaong, Superintendent Abdulwahid Pedtucasan, Chief Inspector Zukarno Dicay, Inspectors Rex Diongon, and Saudi Mokamad. The Napolcom, mandated by the 1987 Constitution to probe police anomalies and irregularities, said the carnage of the 57 people — half of them journalists — was an "act of soulless people, mindless goons that can be ordered at will." The Commission admitted that it was "possible" that the accused officers would abuse their authority if they are not suspended, while hearing on their case is on going. "We are ordering their suspension to ensure the integrity of the investigation and prevent them [the policemen] from intervening or interfering," said Escueta. With the suspension order in effect, the Napolcom's Summary Hearing Office has already been directed to dispatch the conduct of the formal hearing for the grave misconduct case filed against the suspended police officers. On Friday, Escueta also formed a three-man panel to head the summary proceedings, expected to begin by late April. "Inaasahan namin na mabilis nating maaksyonan ito. Mukhang mauuna pa tayo sa QC-RTC," he said. Families of the journalists filed the complaint not only because of the gravity of the criminal charges lodged against the officers but also because of the strength of evidence against them. The families also wanted the accused officers to be temporarily suspended to prevent the latter from using their positions at the PNP to "harass, intimidate, coerce and unduly influence" complainants and witnesses in the murder case. The petitioners included in their joint complaint-affidavit documents used in the Justice department's preliminary investigation. The families argued that the Justice department’s resolution finding probable cause to formally charge the policemen in court with murder showed there was "strong evidence of guilt" against them. Under Napolcom rules, the suspended police officers stand being punished with dismissal if proven to have committed grave misconduct. Affirmative remedy Lawyer Harry Roque, legal counsel for the families of the 13 journalists, welcomed the Napolcom order, saying: "Ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na nabigyan sila ng affirmative relief. This is the first and only affirmative remedy they have [received]," Roque said. Slain journalist Alejandro "Bong" Reblando's wife, Myrna, said the suspension order made her feel better. However, she said she and the other families of the slain journalists are still looking forward to the eventual dismissal from service of the implicated policemen. "Nakakagaan po ng loob namin. Okay na po iyon sa amin (sa ngayon)," said an emotional Reblando, her voice breaking as she cried. (This has made us feel better for now.) Catherine Nuñez, another relative of the slain journalists, took the opportunity to issue a warning against other members of the Philippine National Police. "Sana magsilbing takot na gumawa ng masama dahil sa mga nangyari na ito [na suspension]," she said. (I hope this suspension will discourage people.) Rebellion case junked The Ampatuan camp scored a victory last month when the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77 junked a rebellion case filed against clan members and their alleged armed supporters. They were accused of taking up arms against the government so they could control Maguindanao and prevent being arrested for the Novemner 23 massacre. A series of military raids — conducted when the province was placed under martial law in December — led to the discovery of huge caches of heavy artillery and ammunition inside Ampatuan properties and alleged detachments of the clan's private armed groups. Both the prosecutors and the military have expressed plans to appeal the junking of the rebellion case, or to file additional charges of illegal possession of firearms. Besides the grave misconduct case before the Napolcom, the officers are also respondents in the separate murder case still in connection with the Maguindanao massacre. Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the QC-RTC Branch 221 has yet to resume hearing the case, but the Supreme Court earlier this week ordered that the proceedings be transferred from Camp Crame to Bicutan in Taguig City. Andal Ampatuan Jr., the prime suspect in the carnage, is currently detained in a maximum security facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, while 49 other suspects in the crime are staying at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame. Fourth civilian volunteer involved in massacre arrested In a related development, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it has arrested the fourth civilian volunteer involved in the massacre. Thong E. Guiamano alias Ibrahim Kamal Tatak was arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, the CIDG said in a press statement. The suspect did not resist arrest when cornered at Barangay Manungkaling, Mamasapano, Maguindanao, the statement said, quoting Police Superintendent Benito C. Estipona. Estipona is concurrent Task Group Commander of SITG Maguindanao. However, when Guiamano was earlier arrested on April 15, 2010, he first presented himself as Kamal Tatak to the authorities. "Our investigators made a comparison of his photographs from our records and a police clearance issued by the Mamasapano Police last June 2, 2008 and we discovered that he is one and the same person," the statement said. With Guiamano's arrest, the CIDG now has custody over six Ampatuan family members and allies, four civilian volunteers, including 50 PNP personnel. "We expect more arrests in the near future as our policemen have their own focused targets and their locations elsewhere in the country," the statement added. - LBG, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV