Palace said Duterte will not step in Ozamiz raid probe
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OZAMIZ CITY—Malacañang yesterday said President Rodrigo Duterte would not meddle with plans to probe last Sunday's drug raid here.
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The raid was held early dawn last July 30, where authorities claimed that a shootout ensued with the Parojinogs and their supporters.
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This information from the Palace came after Duterte said in the past that he would not allow any soldier or policeman to be investigated without his approval.
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The president, being a lawyer, knows that independent bodies like the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) have mandates to perform, said Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
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Speaking to reporters, Guevarra added that as a lawyer and prosecutor, Duterte knows the law, the criminal procedure and the limits of what he can do.
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He also said those allegations of unnecessary force or rubout or something like that by police; these would have to be investigated and the President need not be involved in things like this as these are police matters and they have their internal procedures pertaining to these.
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"Normal investigative procedures will have to be observed if there is any claim of some improper implementation of the search warrant," he said.
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"There is a presumption of regularity in all this. If there is anyone who will complain that something irregular happened, then an investigation will have to be done. For now, we presume regularity," Guevarra declared.
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Guevarra added: "Technically (the president) can stop the police or soldiers from attending investigations by the CHR but I don't think he would."
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Last week, Duterte was said to have told policemen and soldiers they would have to get his approval before facing investigations by the CHR, whom he accused of being "one-sided" against government forces as he challenged the commission to also investigate the rebels' atrocities against members of the security forces.
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The drug raid was held early dawn at the Parojinogs' old house in Baybay San Roque village. Police claimed that a shootout ensued after the Parojinogs and their supporters fired at law enforcers.
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Aside from the mayor, those who were killed in the raid include his wife Susan, his brother Board Member Octavio Parojinog Jr. and sister Mona.
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Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog-Echavez and brother Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. were arrested during the operation and is now under the police custody at Camp Crame.
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In other developments obtained by The Philippine Preview, it said that Duterte has a standing order for the police to hunt down all narco-politicians in the country and all people who supported the illegal drug trade.
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PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has been quoted as saying Parojinog's death should serve as a warning to other mayors supposedly involved in the drug trade to surrender to police without putting up a fight. (MICHAEL MEDINA)
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OZAMIZ CITY—Malacañang yesterday said President Rodrigo Duterte would not meddle with plans to probe last Sunday's drug raid here.
.
The raid was held early dawn last July 30, where authorities claimed that a shootout ensued with the Parojinogs and their supporters.
.
This information from the Palace came after Duterte said in the past that he would not allow any soldier or policeman to be investigated without his approval.
.
The president, being a lawyer, knows that independent bodies like the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) have mandates to perform, said Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
.
Speaking to reporters, Guevarra added that as a lawyer and prosecutor, Duterte knows the law, the criminal procedure and the limits of what he can do.
.
He also said those allegations of unnecessary force or rubout or something like that by police; these would have to be investigated and the President need not be involved in things like this as these are police matters and they have their internal procedures pertaining to these.
.
"Normal investigative procedures will have to be observed if there is any claim of some improper implementation of the search warrant," he said.
.
"There is a presumption of regularity in all this. If there is anyone who will complain that something irregular happened, then an investigation will have to be done. For now, we presume regularity," Guevarra declared.
.
Guevarra added: "Technically (the president) can stop the police or soldiers from attending investigations by the CHR but I don't think he would."
.
Last week, Duterte was said to have told policemen and soldiers they would have to get his approval before facing investigations by the CHR, whom he accused of being "one-sided" against government forces as he challenged the commission to also investigate the rebels' atrocities against members of the security forces.
.
The drug raid was held early dawn at the Parojinogs' old house in Baybay San Roque village. Police claimed that a shootout ensued after the Parojinogs and their supporters fired at law enforcers.
.
Aside from the mayor, those who were killed in the raid include his wife Susan, his brother Board Member Octavio Parojinog Jr. and sister Mona.
.
Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog-Echavez and brother Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. were arrested during the operation and is now under the police custody at Camp Crame.
.
In other developments obtained by The Philippine Preview, it said that Duterte has a standing order for the police to hunt down all narco-politicians in the country and all people who supported the illegal drug trade.
.
PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has been quoted as saying Parojinog's death should serve as a warning to other mayors supposedly involved in the drug trade to surrender to police without putting up a fight. (MICHAEL MEDINA)