PNP violated rights of RCBC heist suspects — CHR chief

07/15/2008

Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Leila de Lima yesterday said the recent robbery-murders in the Laguna branch of the Rizal Commercial banking Corp. (RCBC) is among the top three incidents of human rights violations in the country.

De Lima, who was guest of honor during the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) morning flag raising ceremony, cited the Kuratong Baleleng case, the Ortigas rubout case and the RCBC rob-slays as the three top events that “rocked” the PNP.

She also scored the PNP for parading “suspected criminals” before the media.

“The PNP should be careful in arresting suspects and presenting them before the media,” she said.

De Lima said the CHR is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Ricardo Gomolon, said to be the prime suspect in the RCBC heist.

She said Gomolon’s wife has appealed to her office to help her husband who she said was merely being made a “fall guy” by the PNP.

Earlier, De Lima said four of the suspects in the RCBC robbery case who were allegedly killed in a shootout with the police may have been actually executed by the police.

De Lima was quoted by local media as saying that the four suspects behind the May 16 massacre at the RCBC in Cabuyao town, Laguna province, “could have been rubbed out by policemen.”

She said witnesses interviewed by the CHR’s initial reaction team claimed that the four men were unarmed when shot by policemen.

According to her, the witnesses saw policemen shoot the four suspects outside their homes while they already surrendered. The four were identified as Vivencio Javier, Rolly Lachica, Pepito Magsino and Angelito Malabanan.

“The policemen fired more shots when the suspects were already lying down,” De Lima said, quoting testimonies of witnesses to the killings in the village of Pagaspas, near Tanauan City, Batangas province, also south of Manila

De Lima, who recently took over as head of the CHR, announced that the agency has taken the witnesses under its protection and has asked the Department of Justice to put them in the Witness Protection Program.

The CHR also asked the PNP for the autopsy reports on the four suspects and has called on police to provide the names of the officers involved in the shooting.

Police claim P20 million was taken in the robbery, although the bank has never confirmed this.

Ten persons, including nine bank staff and a customer, were killed by the suspects. Mina Diaz

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