By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 has ordered the immediate relief of two policemen tagged in the botched killing of a suspected robber.
Executive Master Sergeant Jessie Jim Rubio and Staff Sergeant Enrico Gonzales were ordered relieved from the Iloilo City Police Office and transferred to the Regional Personnel Holding Accounting Section (RPHAS) effective April 14, 2023.
Even before their relief order, ICPO director Colonel Joeresty Coronica has already ordered an investigation to ascertain the administrative culpability, if any, of the two ICPO personnel assigned to the City Intelligence Unit (CIU).
He also directed the two to cease their functions as intelligence operatives.
Meanwhile, Coronica said he has yet to see the complaint sheet on his men.
“But from what I heard, it appeared that their alleged participation was done in their personal capacity,” he said.
The city police chief stressed that they do not and will not tolerate or condone such acts.
“I assure the public that we will not intervene with the case. They have to face the charges against them,” he said.
Aside from Gonzales and Rubio, four other suspects were charged with frustrated murder and planting of evidence, which is in violation of Section 29, Article II of Republic Act of 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act), before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutors Office.
Two of the four other suspects are still to be identified.
The case stemmed after six suspects allegedly tried to summarily execute a notorious thief who was found wounded at a rice field in Barangay Calaboa, Leganes on March 26.
Glen Paloma, 29, of Barangay Aganan Riverside, Pavia, Iloilo survived and later identified his alleged assailants.
According to reports, investigators allegedly presented photos of several policemen from ICPO.
Paloma later pointed to Gonzales and Rubio as his attackers.
This led others to question if the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) is keeping photographs akin to a “police rogues gallery” of ICPO personnel.
The incident leading to the shooting incident happened when Paloma was caught robbing a restaurant owned by one of the suspects.
Sources claimed that after Paloma was caught, the owner allegedly called the two policemen.
One thing allegedly led to another.
Paloma was pushed out of a vehicle and repeatedly shot at a rice field in Barangay Calaboa, Leganes.
The victim sustained around 5 gunshot wounds, based on his available medical bulletin.
His hands were tied with a wire, his neck was bound with packing tape, and his feet were also strapped with packing tape.
Paloma initially claimed that he was fixing his bicycle when he was forced to board a vehicle and ended up getting shot in Leganes.
