THE Philippine National Police – Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) has clarified that they still need to review the recommendation to slap a 40-day suspension against the cop who was involved in the fatal shooting of a teen with special needs in Valenzuela City.
PNP chief Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said that the agency recognizes the dismay and grievance felt by the bereaved family after their close relative, Edwin Arnigo, was killed by Police Senior Master Sergeant Christopher Salcedo.
“I understand the sentiments of Erwin Arnigo’s family about the recommended penalty by the Internal Affairs Service against the cop who was the reason behind his death in an anti-illegal gambling operation in Valenzuela last May,” he stated.
However, the PNP chief explained that there is still a need to re-examine the recommendation against the rogue policeman as it has to undergo usual probing by the Discipline, Law and Order Division (DLOD) which works under the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM).
“Just like other results of IAS investigations, this case will still be subjected to two more reviews— under the Discipline, Law and Order Division or DLOD of the DPRM and under the Office of the Chief PNP— to determine if there are solid legal grounds to justify the recommendations made. This is how due process works in your PNP,” Eleazar explained.
While the suspension is likely to be immediately imposed, the victim’s family expressed that the suspension is not enough to pay for the loss of their loved one.
Disgruntled by the lack of punishment, the mother of the victim sought for Eleazar’s help to press more stringent penalties against Salcedo.
The PNP chief firmly said that suspending the suspect is only a recommendation deemed to be further assessed as it requires justifications, emphasizing that it still must undergo due process.
Eleazar, however, assured that the result of the investigation will be done in fair and honest methods.
“For the meantime, this case is being carefully reviewed in DLOD and just like what I have promised to Arnigo’s family and to our countrymen, the result of the investigation and the PNP’s response on this matter will be fair,” he said.
Eighteen–year-old Arnigo was fatally shot in an encounter with Salcedo who claimed that the former grabbed his firearm.
The allegation was debunked by the victim’s relatives, saying that the teen was afraid of policemen. Moreover, a witness said that no scuffle occurred between the two.
The National Bureau of Investigation will extend further investigation on the incident.