By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA, July 1 (PNA) — The Philippine National Police will supports the filing of charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against Vice President Jejomar Binay during tense confrontation between police officers from the Southern Police District (SPD) at the Makati City Hall grounds last Monday night.
PNP Officer in Charge (OIC) Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina said that he would support his men and also provide lawyers to pursue the cases.
“Anything that would be needed of our men in pursue on their grievances we will support,” Espina told reporters during the press conference held at PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame.
Sr. Supt. Elmer Jamias, SPD deputy chief for administration and ground commander of the more than 200 police officers ordered to secure the Makati City Hall grounds said he was at the receiving end of the Vice President’s wrath who demanded that police officers vacate the city hall grounds.
According to Jamias, Binay confronted him at the grounds of the city hall at about 9 p.m. and demanded that the police remove the trucks that serve as barricades to the entrances of the city hall grounds and the streets leading to it.
Jamias also said the Vice President wanted the police officers guarding the grounds to allow the supporters of the Binay family to freely enter.
Sa loob po 33 years pagseserbisyo bilang pulis, nagsimula ako maging patrolman at inabot ko itong rango na to sa akin pagtupad sa akin tungkulin nakaharap ko ang Vice President na sumusuporta sa kapulisan niya ngunit kabaligtaran ang nangyari siya ay nanlait na personal sa aking pangalan ang sabi ko sa kanya at sumaludo pa ako sa kanya at matagal na ina-acknowledged patuloy ang panlalait bilang isang pulis,” Jamias said, who also present in press conference.
He added that he would coordinate Special Investigation Task Group of the SPD to file charges against the Vice President.
“Ako po ay magsasampa ng reklamo laban sa Vice President panlalait sa aking pangalan at sa kanya direct assault na ginawa niya sa akin at threat na sinabi niya sa akin bago siya umalis. Sa footage po marami dun hindi nacover at ako mismo ang nakaharap niya sinasabi niya sa akin kakalabanin na kita ngayon maglalaban na tayo ngayon tanggalin mo mga tauhan mo maglaban na tayo lumaban na kayo ang sabi ko sa kanya Vice President hindi po dahil lumalabag na kayo sa batas at bilang alagad ng batas ako po ay tumutupad sa tungkulin ko,” he said.
NCRPO Chief Police Director Carmelo Valmoria said that the task force of Special Investigation Team will be headed by Sr. Supt. Tomas Apolinario, chief directorial staff of SPD, will collated the evidence including the video footages of the media entity.
“We are requesting media outlets that will be able to identify the responsible persons sa nangyari meron file na appropriated charges kasi pag nagfile and investigate is based on the facts,” Valmoria noted.
He added police officers would remain at the city hall grounds until it was assessed that the security threat was no longer there. (PNA)