A private security agency owned by Iloilo 1st District Rep. Richard Garin and his father, Guimbal town Mayor Oscar Garin, and whether its security guards are licensed to operate as bodyguards are at the center of police investigations after the politicians were charged with beating up a local cop earlier this week.
This was despite Rep. Garin formally apologizing on Friday to the Philippine National Police “as an institution” but not to Senior Police Officer 3 Federico Macaya, whom the lawmaker still described as “a habitual delinquent.”
Saying Garin’s explanation was “flimsy,” PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. said in a television interview they could forgive the Iloilo solon but would “never forget” the incident.
Garin and his father were earlier charged with seven criminal and four administrative cases after they handcuffed, punched, slapped, and spat at Macaya.
In a statement, Rep. Garin said: “Regarding the incident at Guimbal Plaza, first and foremost, I make this public apology especially to the Philippine National Police as an institution, and also to the officers and personnel of the PNP upon whom I have great respect.”
He said that during the “Disyembre sa Guimbal” celebration at the town plaza, “the suspect [Macaya] mauled a guest, hitting him with a beer bottle on the head.”
“It would have been a manageable incident, however, the suspect turned out to be the same one known to police as a habitual delinquent,” added Rep. Garin, who said the police officer also has a pending murder case.
“In spite of that, and instead of filing a case on this recent incident, the victim was made to sign an Affidavit of Desistance by this one police for withdrawal of complaint. And this, in spite as well of the clear provisions that corresponding complaint be lodged in Court,” Rep. Garin added.
The solon said the police officer’s move “is a betrayal of public trust and a clear manifestation of his abuse of power” and was “a clear violation of a PNP policy not to meddle or negotiate in behalf of a party involved in a criminal case.”
“Yet in all these, I sincerely ask for an apology on what I earlier did. I reiterate my apologies for my actions which I take full responsibility for,” the younger Garin said.
The solon clarified that his actions were not directed to the PNP as an institution, or against its officers and personnel, but were merely “actions [and] an unfortunate display of extreme frustration towards one, single PNP personnel who I believe committed a great disservice to the people of Guimbal.”
Still, the regional police are now checking if the security guards at Garin’s agency are licensed to operate as bodyguards, PNP Western Visayas police director Chief Supt, John Bulalacao told dzMM.
“The issue here is are they allowed to be bodyguards because that requires a license. I also asked our regional units if the security guards have permits to carry firearms,” Bulalacao said.
The PNP had also revoked licenses and permits to carry about 19 firearms for Rep. Garin and Mayor Garin.
“Definitely, that’s a lot. If I’m not mistaken, beyond five firearms registered to your name, you should already be considered as a firearms collector,” PNP spokesman Durana Jr. told ANC’s Early Edition.
Eight of the 19 registered firearms owned by the father and son have expired licenses, police earlier said.
Durana said the PNP will make sure that Garin and his father will face the consequences of their actions toward Macaya, whom they allegedly beat up, spat at and slapped.
“The fact that he slapped and spat at and threatened to kill using the enemies of the state, if those were true, definitely it’s an affront not only to the person and dignity of PO3 Macaya but the entire Philippine National Police,” he said.
Garin’s actions were unbecoming of a lawmaker, Durana said.
“I couldn’t dwell on what’s in the mind of the congressman, but I think that behavior is not reflective of a responsible lawmaker,” he said.
