The nine police officers of the Navotas City Police Station are being removed from their posts following a complaint of torture filed by the lawyer of two murder suspects in Barangay Bangkulasi.
According to the complaint, eight police officers were initially charged with grave misconduct, serious irregularities, oppression, conduct unbecoming of a police officer, and violation of the Anti-Torture Act. The PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) began interviewing them on November 27.
The next day, Napolcom opened a separate investigation to determine whether the police officers had administrative liability. According to PNP spokesperson BGen. Ranfulf Tuaño, the group was expanded by one officer, bringing the total number of relieved officers to nine.
They are currently under the PNP Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (PHAU) of the Northern Police District pending the results of the two investigations.
On Thursday, Navotas police denied the torture allegations and presented a video that allegedly shows the suspect voluntarily confessing before a lawyer. According to PCol. Renante Pinuela, it is clear from the medical certificate that the suspect has no internal or external injuries.
