Pubdate: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines) Contact: http://www.mb.com.ph/frntpage.asp Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906 CAYETANO: PENALIZE COPS WHO FAIL TO ATTEND PROBES Sen. Renato 'Companeroa Cayetano will file a resolution asking the Senate Committees on Justice and Human Rights and Public Order and Illegal Drugs to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the alleged negligence of duty by PNP personnel led by Chief Insp. Napoleon Villegas for their failure to attend three hearings in a case involving five Chinese chemists that were arrested in a makeshift laboratory in Pasig City where six kilos of "shabu" and several drums of chemicals for the manufacture of illegal drugs were seized. Following the non-appearance of Villegas and his men in the hearings, Chinese nationals Chua Chuy Li, Xing Fu Wang, Joey Lu Cruz, Huang Hong Wei and Tomas Lu were granted R700,000 bail by Judge Rodrigo Lorenzo of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 266. According to Cayetano, there are guidelines set by the National Police Commission that compels police officers to appear in trials and investigations when properly notified and subpoenaed. "Memorandum Circular No. 96-006 of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) classifies as a grave administrative offense any willful and unjustifiable non-appearance of a PNP member before the court, prosecutors office, People's Law Enforcement Board (PLEB), hearing officer or any tribunal or officer authorized by law to hear cases, and prescribing the appropriate penalty for such offenses,a" said Cayetano. "Article 208 of the Revised Penal Code provides for the penalty of prison correccional in its minimum period and suspension on 'any public officer, or officer of the law, who in dereliction of his duties of his office, shall maliciously refrain from instituting prosecution for the punishment of violators of the law, or shall tolerate the commission of offenses,' " Cayetano added. "There are several cases wherein those accused of heinous crimes have been acquitted because of the non-appearance of police officers in court proceedings or investigations. The law must be imposed on erring police officials for failure to attend," said Cayetano. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth