PNP to investigate alleged harassment on ex-cop’s family in Taguig

July 20, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said he will investigate the alleged harassment of police officers from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on a former cop’s family in Taguig City.

Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said he spoke to Major General Debold Sinas, NCRPO chief, who is also included in the alleged harassment which was caught in a video and  circulating online.

“Probably we will investigate on how they carry out the order but of course we know that the video would speak a thousand words that’s why we will investigate what happened during that confrontation,” Gamboa said.

Based on the viral video, the family of former Police Executive Master Sergeant Arnel Delos Santos was being evicted from the old Regional Direct Support Unit (RDSU) compound along Lawton Avenue as the NCRPO is planning to use it as their new quarantine facility.

The incident happened last July 18.

During the alleged confrontation with Sinas and other police personnel, a cop was also caught snatching the phone of someone documenting the incident.

According to Sinas, delos Santos has been overstaying in the place, which is owned by the government, and despite notices and orders refused to leave the area.

He added the RDSU building, the motor pool building and parking garage are inside a lot owned by the Southern Police District (SPD) contrary to the claim of the family that it is owned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Gamboa said police officers and non-officers are provided with housing and quartering facilities when they are in the service but once they retire they are given one month to vacate the facilities.

“Once they retire they are given one month. Now, this is based on regulations and we always premise that all the officers would follow these regulations,” he said.

“As to the details why a lot of officers are with RD (regional director) Sinas, we will investigate it and find out why these things have happened but generally based on the explanation of General Sinas, they are a lot there because they were going around and inspecting probable quarantine areas because I was the one who mandated all regional offices, even provincial offices and encouraged (them) to come up with their own quarantine facilities,” he added.

Gamboa said those who are illegally occupying areas owned by the PNP will be relocated.

“My thrust is really to relocate them and require them to vacate these places because in the advent, we have a lot of PNP infrastructure projects that is why we need our lands but this is a continuing program of the PNP to free PNP camps from squatters,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS