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VOLUME XXIV No. 14
Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines
October 18, 2009 issue
 

Police director cleared of Dumaluan complaint

 

A police investigative body based in the regional office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has cleared Police Director Senior Supt. Edgardo Ingking of any impropriety arising from a complaint lodged by former Panglao mayor Doloriech Dumaluan. The investigation was prompted by the Dumaluan complaint which he coursed through the office of Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., the former mayor's party mate in the PDP-Laban. The Cagayan de Oro senator took cognizance of the former mayor's complaint regarding Ingking's actuation in the handling of the attempted murder case involving Dumaluan. The ex-mayor accused Ingking of showing undue interest in handling the case of Teodulo Macalandag, the suspect in the Dumaluan slay try.

Dumaluan said Ingking's action/proposition was suspicious and created distrust. The ex-mayor further wondered why no representation was initiated by the police director to inquire about the shooting incident and yet he afforded time in offering a lawyer to the suspect who had confessed participation and had implicated other persons allegedly behind the slay attempt. In a five-page report, Police Senior Supt. Ramon Rafael, regional CIDG chief, acting on the findings of Police Senior Inspector Ricky Neron, chief of Cebu CIDT, rebutted Dumaluan's alleged prohibition to visit the detained suspect Macalandag. The report noted that Camp Dagohoy being the headquarters of the PNP is the primary responsibility of the provincial director including but not limited to the detainees which visitors may be denied access or entry. Likewise, the report identified Macalandag as a high risk detention prisoner as he was involved in an attempt to kill a prominent personality in the locality. In the wake of Dumaluan's complaint, he filed an administrative case against Ingking before the National Police Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for obstruction of justice and dereliction of duty.

  INGKING WELCOMES RAPS

Sought to react regarding the Dumaluan twin cases, the Bohol provincial police director Wednesday said he welcomed the filing of a criminal complaint for obstruction of justice and dereliction of duty against him by the former Panglao mayor in relation to the shooting incident last Aug. 25. “This will once and for all settle the issue that has been extensively covered both in print and broadcast media,” Supt. Ingking said. Ingking said he is “very confident” that he would eventually be vindicated against the vicious attack on his person “through the proper and appropriate forum.” A shooting incident broke out in Barangay Bolod, Panglao which resulted in injuries to both Dumaluan and one Teodulo Macalandag, the alleged gunman.  Ingking said the only frustration the police has in the cases of frustrated murder and attempted murder filed against Macalandag is the fact that the latter's credibility might be seriously affected.

The provincial director was referring to an affidavit Macalandag executed that Ingking visited him personally at his cell to force him to accept the lawyer he brought with him. Ingking said that that “never in his entire life” has he met Macalandag in person. He vowed that a case of perjury will be filed against Macalandag as soon as a certified copy of the said affidavit is obtained. “Whoever influenced Macalandag to perjure himself against (me) could not have anticipated that this would boomerang on him,” Ingking said in his press statement. Ingking strongly denied the allegations of obstruction of justice and dereliction of duty. He recalled that as soon as the crime was reported to the Bohol tourist police, a series of police actions was carried out to ensure “prompt and systematic investigation of the case” under his supervision. “(Scene of the crime operatives) officers were sent to the crime scene and investigators were dispatched not only in Panglao but also in the hospital where both victim and suspect were evacuated to gather statement(s) and other evidence,” he noted.

Ingking said that at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, police officers witnessed and heard Dumaluan pointing to Macalandag as the person who shot him. “This negates the claim of Dr. Dumaluan that no police officers went to him after the incident,” he added. In fact, Ingking said Dumaluan's revelation was the primary basis for the police officers to effect the warrantless arrest of Macalandag. Since the case involved a former mayor, Ingking said he formed a special task force to give focus to the investigation and hasten solution of the case. “All possible witnesses were identified and statements were gathered from them with the help of the victim Dr. Dumaluan and his counsel,” the provincial director said. Ingking noted that the inquest of the provincial prosecutor “could not have been made” without the affidavit of the arresting police officers. The provincial director said he “is not new to this kind of harassment”. Ingking said the complaint was lodged “as a consequence of several criminal and administrative cases he filed against Dumaluan, his relatives and associates.

 
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