Press Release
January 20, 2017

Cayetano: "Tokhang for Ransom" inexcusable

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano expressed serious dismay over the reported murder of a South Korean national inside Camp Crame, stressing that the police personnel and officials behind this serious crime should be held accountable.

In a press conference on Friday (January 20), the senator called the so-called "tokhang for ransom" incident "sad, tragic, and inexcusable."

Cayetano said he will support investigations to be conducted regarding the case.

"Definitely, kung may abuse, dapat may sumagot," he said.

Cayetano, meanwhile, said he appreciated how Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa immediately took responsibility for the incident.

When asked whether Dela Rosa should resign, he said there are other PNP officials below him directly assigned in Camp Crame who should be held accountable.

"I believe in command responsibility. But I think na any head, hindi naman mababantayan ang over 1,000 personnel," said Cayetano.

"I am not calling for his courtesy resignation," the senator added. "I think he's doing a good job."

However, Cayetano also asked that independent investigations by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) be allowed.

"If they're failing or need help, pasok ang Congress," the senator noted.

Cayetano called the incident a "big wake-up call" for the PNP to continue to cleanse their ranks to ensure a more effective implementation of legitimate operations of the administration's anti-illegal drug campaign.

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