Press Release
August 23, 2016

De Lima lauds the immediate relief of Antipolo policemen

Sen. Leila M. de Lima today commended Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald de la Rosa for the immediate relief of some police officers implicated in the murder of two suspected drug dealers in Antipolo City.

De Lima, who chairs the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, made the commendation at the resumption of the Senate investigation into the spate of extrajudicial killings and summary executions in the campaign against illegal drugs.

"I thank you (General De la Rosa) for your swift action on this matter," she said, after De la Rosa told her and other Senate probers about the action he took on the case of suspected drug dealers Rodelio and Rosalie Campos.

Among those implicated were PO2 Dave Barcelo, PO2 Dennis Malabanan, PO2 Allan Barangan, PO1 Ivan Joseph Gammad, and PO1 Reynald Espiel Rabe, who are all members of the Station Anti-Illegal Drugs, Antipolo City Police Station.

These police officers now confined at the PNP's Camp Crame for investigation are facing charges of murder, planting of evidence, robbery, grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct. Other officers charged have been absent without official leave.

Based on official police reports, the Campos couple were found dead in separate locations in Antipolo and Morong, Rizal after they were supposed to remit drug money amounting to PhP50,000 to two police officers who act as drug suppliers.

Their daughter, Mary Rose Aquino, who testified at the Senate on Mondaybelieved these police officers, among others, were purportedly involved in the killing of her parents. She alleged these policemen brought drugs to her parents for repacking.

In her testimony, Aquino claimed that her parents wanted to stop being police assets due to the administration's all-out war against illegal drugs but were purportedly killed to prevent them from divulging the nefarious activities of these police officers.

The former justice secretary said she believes that the ongoing Senate investigation is meant to help the government's overall efforts to curb crime as well as to expose the alleged involvement of some elements of the PNP in the illegal drug trade.

"The PNP Chief himself said it that the police officers involved were not part of their initial list. The testimony of Mary Rose gave the PNP chief new leads in their efforts to clean up the police force," she said.

"Kung hindi nagkaharapan sa Senado, malamang sa hindi, patuloy pa rin ang operasyon ng mga iyan," she added. s

De Lima said she hopes that other testimonies of the witnesses summoned to the Senate inquiry will help the PNP put an end to these killings purportedly carried out in the name of the government's campaign against illegal drugs.

"We still have a long way to go with the Senate probe. I am thankful so far with the cooperation of the police and other resource persons. I hope this probe will help the PNP in its anti-crime campaign," she said.

News Latest News Feed