Cops in Failon kin’s arrest relieved Abigail Kwok INQUIRER.net
April 17, 2009
MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) National Capital Region police office (NCRPO) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales has ordered the immediate relief of policemen who allegedly used excessive force in arresting the relatives of news anchor Ted Failon at the New Era General Hospital Thursday night.
In a press conference at the Camp Crame police headquarters Friday, Rosales said he ordered Senior Superintendent Elmo San Diego, Quezon City police district (QCPD) officer-in-charge, to immediately investigate the incident.
At the same time, Rosales ordered that all policemen involved in the investigation into the shooting of Failon's wife, Trinidad Arteche-Etong, be removed.
Etong expired in the hospital 8:50 p.m. Thursday.
In a separate press conference, San Diego said it would investigate allegations that some of its men used "excessive force" when they arrested family members of Failon.
But San Diego also appealed to the public to let the police do its job.
"We will never tolerate the use of excessive force. This will be thoroughly investigated," he said.
But San Diego quickly added, "But don't tell us how to do our jobs."
Trinidad Arteche-Etong's siblings, Pamela and Maximo, were arrested by police Thursday night.
San Diego also denied that they failed to read the Miranda Rights, which was supposed to be a mandatory process when arresting a suspect.
"Hindi pwedeng mangyari yun dahil bibliya namin yun [That cannot happen because that is our Bible]," he said.
Nevertheless, San Diego said he would be investigating his own men.
"Hindi porket high profile si Failon at critical siya sa QCPD...hindi totoong gumaganti kami kay Failon [Not because Failon is high profile and he has been critical of the QCPD, it is not true that we are taking our revenge on Failon]" he added.
