PNP chief: Source of leaked Arroyo mug shots still unknown

The police force has yet to determine who among their ranks leaked the mug shots of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the media. “Patuloy pa rin nating inaalam ito. Syempre, maraming dapat kausapin. Maraming dapat alamin kung sino nga ang nagrelease nito,” said Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome on Thursday. Bartolome said there was  a strict order to policemen who facilitated the former President’s booking proceedings last Saturday not to publicly release the photos and to directly submit them to the court.   “Ang aming tungkulin dito ay dalhin ito sa korte. ‘Yun ‘yung aking mahigpit na kautusan bago pa man nila kunan ng mug shot ang ating dating Pangulo,” he said.   The PNP chief, however, did not say what sanctions will meted out on the person who leaked the unauthentic mug shots.   Unofficial copies of Mrs. Arroyo’s mug shots that were circulated online ended up on the front page of a newspaper days after she was arrested for electoral sabotage charges filed against her by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in connection with the supposed irregularities in the 2007 elections.   Both Bartolome and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo have already denied the authenticity of the photos, saying there were discrepancies between the official and the published versions.   Prepared to secure Arroyo   Bartolome said officials from the Southern Police District (SPD) are prepared to secure Mrs. Arroyo if the court orders to move her to a detention cell from her hospital suite at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City.   “Kung saan sabihin ng korte, kami ay susunod. Ang sa amin, seguridad ang lagging iisipin dito. Kahit saan dalhin, ise-secure natin,” he said.   He added that the PNP will not recommend any detention facility for Mrs. Arroyo and will let the Pasay court handling the case decide on the matter.   Mrs. Arroyo is currently under temporary hospital arrest due to her bone mineral disorder and hypoparathyroidism. Her camp has already asked the court to let her stay in her hospital suite until she has fully recovered from her condition.   Authorities, however, have already prepared an air-conditioned detention area for Mrs. Arroyo at the SPD headquarters in Taguig City, where she may be transferred once she has recuperated. - Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News