PNP News Releases 2006

CALDERON SACKS POLICE TEAM IN BUTUAN MONASTERY RAID

PNP Chief, Director General Oscar C Calderon expressed regret over a recent police operation in a Catholic convent in Butuan City wherein police operatives "may have stepped too far" in pursuit of a wanted person.

Calderon assured Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos of Butuan City that the incident will be thoroughly investigated and those liable will have to face the consequences of their actions.

"That incident is really very unfortunate. Although the operations may have been officially authorized and in accordance with a lawful order from the court, there are operational procedures that should be observed under such situations," Calderon.

"For this I am extending my sincerest apology to Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos of Butuan City and to Sister Geraldine Ortuoste, the local superior of the Religious Sisters of the Good Shepherd, even as I beg for their kind understanding and indulgence," he said.

The Chief PNP is confident, however, that this isolated incident will not affect the good relations between the police and the church institutions, adding that the PNP remains respectful of the principle of separation between church and state.

Calderon ordered the administrative relief of Superintendent Wilfredo Reyes, Chief of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division of the PNP Regional Office for the Caraga Region and leader of a team of police operatives who went to the convent on November 1 to serve a Warrant of Arrest on Jorge Madlos, a ranking cadre of the New People's Army in Mindanao who is wanted by the law for a string of criminal cases.

Reyes and his men will undergo investigation by the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) in Camp Crame to determine whether proper procedures where observed in the operation conducted by Reyes' team on the RGS monastery.

Chief Inspector Ruben Delos Santos has been named to replace Reyes as RIID Chief of Caraga Region.

Calderon has tasked Deputy Chief for Operations, Deputy Director General Isidro S Lapeña, to supervise the investigation.

Calderon likewise extended his apology to the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) through Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz and promised a speedy investigation to determine the culpability of the raiding team so that proper sanctions will be imposed.

PNP spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Samuel D Pagdilao, Jr said the incident at the RGS convent should serve as an eye opener for law enforcement, and underscores the need for strict observance to prescribed procedures in police operations to correct and prevent similar incidents.

Pagdilao said the PNP, thru the Chaplain Service, is looking at the possibility of holding formal consultations and dialogue with church officials to establish mutual areas of support and cooperation, particularly during police operations.