PNP says Marcos, cops involved in Espinosa case “back to their normal duties”

July 13, 2017

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said Thursday Supt. Marvin Marcos, the officer who led a search operation in the cell of a Leyte mayor which ended in the latter’s death and an inmate, and 18 other officers are back on duty. "They are back. They are back to their normal duties . They can be deployed", Dela Rosa said in an ambush interview at a gun exhibit at SM Megamall. Marcos, head of the regional criminal investigation group, and 18 cops were involved in the killing of the late Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr and inmate Raul Yap inside a sub-provincial prison on November 5, 2016. Dela Rosa said Marcos was reassigned in Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 12. "It went through an investigation. The criminal, murder (case was) downgraded to homicide  That was decided by the Department of Justice. On our side in PNP ( it) is administrative case. The Internal Affairs Service investigated and ran that case", he said. Dela Rosa said there is a reason Marcos was charged with suspension and not dismissal. "We showed that the justice system was served...Even a drug pusher or drug lord can claim due process then why cannot we give this due process to the police that went through the due process. After due process. this is what they got", he said. Dela Rosa said Marcos should prove himself as an upright police officer after returning to the service. Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos, PNP spokesperson, said: "I have not seen an order yet. What happens is the order of the lifting of the leave of absence because if you are charged criminally and your supposed to be committed in a detention facility outside of the PNP automatically you are on a leave of absence". "The time it is murder when the case was downgraded to homicide and (Marcos) was able to post bail. He cannot file for leave of absence (so) the suspension took effect", he added. He said PNP will reveal the real status of Marcos once the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management has issued its order. (Alanna Ambi/DMS)