21 Police Fined For 2005-2008 Spate Of Killings In Davao City

[Okieboy]

Home > Newsinfo > Latest News Stories > Regions > 21 PNP officers fined for 2005-2008 spate of killings in Davao City21 PNP officers fined for 2005-2008 spate of killings in Davao CityBy Tetch TorresINQUIRER.net6:46 pm | Thursday, March 29th, 2012shareNew 0MANILA, Philippines—Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has fined 21 high-ranking officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Davao City for failure to resolve the spate of killings in Davao City in 2005 to 2008, attributed to the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), an anti-crime vigilante group.Guilty of simple neglect of duty and meted a penalty of fine equivalent to their one-month salary were Police Senior Superintendents Catalino Cuy and Jaime Morente; Chief Inspectors Matthew Baccay, Filmore Escobal, Leandro Felonia, Marvin Manuel Pepino, Ranulfo Cabanog and Vicente Danao; Superintendents Harry Espela, Michael John Dubria and Rommil Mitra; and Senior Inspectors Maximiano Atuel and Arnulfo Mahinay.Also fined were Chief Inspector Alden Delvo, Joselito Loriza, Joel Neil Rojo and Napoleon Eguia; Inspectors Rolly Tropico and Dionisio Abude; Senior Inspector Antonio Alberio Jr.; and P/CINSP Juel Neil Salcedo.“From the foregoing figures, it is evident that respondents were remiss in their duty to significantly reduce the number of killings,” the Ombudsman said in her ruling.The case stemmed from a letter-complaint addressed to the Office of the Ombudsman and sent by a person purporting to represent a group named Davao City Deserves Good Government Movement, that claimed that the DDS was “responsible for the unsolved killings of more than 800 persons.”The same complaint alleged that high-ranking officers of the PNP were directly involved in the murders.Records showed that from 2005 to 2008, the Davao City Police Office registered an unusually high number of unsolved killings.The perpetrators of these executions were usually two motorcycle-riding gunmen and the killings were mostly drug-related.In penalizing the police officers, the Ombudsman said, “Under Executive Order No. 226 dated 17 February 1995, an officer of the Philippine National Police or that of any other law enforcement agency is held accountable for ‘neglect of duty’ under the doctrine of ‘command responsibility’ if he has knowledge that a crime or offense shall be committed, is being committed, or has been committed by his subordinates, or by others within his area of responsibility and, despite such knowledge, he did not take preventive or corrective action either before during, or immediately after its commission.”Investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman showed that in four years, there were 720 persons murdered—97 in 2005, 165 in 2006, 199 in 2007 and 259 in 2008.A mere 321, or less than 50 percent of the cases, however, were solved. The killings were repeatedly committed within the areas of jurisdiction of resp

[Dave Hounddriver]

uilty of simple neglect of duty and meted a penalty of fine equivalent to their one-month salary

Hmm, if they were fined a penalty equal to one month's take of graft and corruption then it might really mean something, :morning1:But seriously speaking, I cannot see the logic in fining a police officer for not doing his job but then continuing to allow them to conduct business as usual. Isn't the appropriate response, when someone is not doing the job you pay them to do, just to fire them and hire someone who will?

[billten]

But seriously speaking, I cannot see the logic in fining a police officer for not doing his job but then continuing to allow them to conduct business as usual. Isn't the appropriate response, when someone is not doing the job you pay them to do, just to fire them and hire someone who will?

At least someone is taking a lead in trying to hold the Police responsible for actually doing something. Changing this country from a culture of 'its not my problem' has to start somewhere.

[Jim Sibbick]

They should not hav been fined at all!This is a not a graft and corruption issue.The killings were vigilante killings and only criminals were killed.Because of the vigilante programme, Davao now has the repuation as the safest place in the Philippines.Regards: Jim

[Mike S]

They should not hav been fined at all!This is a not a graft and corruption issue.The killings were vigilante killings and only criminals were killed.Because of the vigilante programme, Davao now has the repuation as the safest place in the Philippines.Regards: Jim

My feelings exactly Jim ...... and Davao City has one of the lowest violent crime rates in the southern Philippines ...... Cebu had a similar situation a few years back but I see that has now changed ..... and before the uproar about justice ...... consider this ..... if you have a few coins you will never be tried or if you are it will be not guilty ..... so until the judicial system can be revamped I'm all for it ..... one way would to be to implement a jury type system instead of just leaving it up to one man to make a decision ...... As far as fining them consider this ..... if they fine them for not doing their job they could just pick anyone to pin the crime on as all it takes here is for someone to step forward and say "I saw him do it" ..... no questions asked ..... the poor slob will be guilty ..... what's the answer ..... I don't know except a total over haul ..... but we all know that ain't gonna happen ..... oh and by the way it ain't perfect in the US either ..... far from it

[Dave Hounddriver]

At least someone is taking a lead in trying to hold the Police responsible for actually doing something. Changing this country from a culture of 'its not my problem' has to start somewhere.

Ok, true, but what is your concept of justice in the Philippines? That topic is one I started in another thread and the poll there is interesting. About half the people responding think that the good of the many outweigh the rights of the few. That means the cops in Davao should be given medals, under that philosophy.

[billten]

Ok, true, but what is your concept of justice in the Philippines?

Its very complex, i have had some experience of the legal system here and while it had a positive outcome, the time taken and delays involved, made the idea of justice very shaky.The problem i have is that it is a little too easy for a cop or someone else in a position of power to instigate a criminal case (suggestions made, evidence found, witnesses coached, etc, etc,) and there you, are in a world of crap. I honestly believe that after a long and expensive trial you will most likely be acquitted (assuming you are innocent of course) as the judges and such that i have experienced, were all intelligent and capable people, honest and within the system were trying to 'do the right thing'. Trouble is, it will take many many years to get to that outcome and the bastards that started the case against you will most likely be long gone by that time, probably onto bigger and better things.Is that justice? When police officials can instigate something, knowing that even if it doesn't stick you will be so deep in it, for so long, that even if found innocent you will have suffered the burden of the law. This case in Davao may not be the right place to start, but placing responsibility for their actions, and perhaps inactions, onto the police has to start if we are really going to see a positive change in this country.

[Curley]

They should not hav been fined at all!This is a not a graft and corruption issue.The killings were vigilante killings and only criminals were killed.Because of the vigilante programme, Davao now has the repuation as the safest place in the Philippines.Regards: Jim

Whilst agreeing with your view to a certain extent the danger is that if the guilty police were allowed to get away with it completely or as one suggested, given medals, how far would it escalate? Imagine the police getting "pissed with power" and you had a fallout with your local girl, she has a distant cousin who was one of the "DDS" ....... ? Where does it stop?

[Jim Sibbick]

They should not have been fined at all!This is a not a graft and corruption issue.The killings were vigilante killings and only criminals were killed.Because of the vigilante programme, Davao now has the reputation as the safest place in the Philippines.Regards: Jim

Whilst agreeing with your view to a certain extent the danger is that if the guilty police were allowed to get away with it completely or as one suggested, given medals, how far would it escalate? Imagine the police getting "pissed with power" and you had a fallout with your local girl, she has a distant cousin who was one of the "DDS" ....... ? Where does it stop?

The results of the non vigilante world are all around us.I am happy to live in a location with vigilantes.As for the pissed off girlfriend, don't piss her off. Treat ALL Filipinos with respect ALL of the time. Regards; Jim

[Curley]

They should not have been fined at all!This is a not a graft and corruption issue.The killings were vigilante killings and only criminals were killed.Because of the vigilante programme, Davao now has the reputation as the safest place in the Philippines.Regards: Jim

Whilst agreeing with your view to a certain extent the danger is that if the guilty police were allowed to get away with it completely or as one suggested, given medals, how far would it escalate? Imagine the police getting "pissed with power" and you had a fallout with your local girl, she has a distant cousin who was one of the "DDS" ....... ? Where does it stop?

The results of the non vigilante world are all around us.I am happy to live in a location with vigilantes.As for the pissed off girlfriend, don't piss her off.Treat ALL Filipinos with respect ALL of the time. Regards; Jim

I agree, the "results of the non vigilante world are all around us." and i do believe that one should treat ALL people with respect all the time, not just Filipinos. Are you suggesting that there are no cases of Fillipinas seeking revenge for a boyfriend or husband leaving her even though he may have done it in the most respectable way?