The Philippine National Police on Sunday denied the claims that two Cordillera activists who have been reported missing are in the custody of the police.
The PNP issued the statement after the Court of Appeals 13th Division ordered the military and the police to present the two missing activists, Dexter Capuyan and Gene Roz Jamil de Jesus.
“The PNP strongly and categorically denies the allegation that the subjects of the writs, Capuyan and De Jesus, were arrested by the PNP,” the PNP said.
The PNP said when the two were first reported missing, police were dispatched in a bid to locate the activists.
Human rights groups said Capuyan and De Jesus were nabbed at the Golden City Subdivision in Taytay, Rizal on April 28 by men who introduced themselves as agents of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
“Records would also show that there were certifications issued by various units of the PNP stating that Capuyan and De Jesus are not within their custody. They are neither among the list of Persons Under Police Custody nor can they be found within any PNP facilities” the PNP said.
Capuyan is a member of the Bontoc-Ibaloi-Kankanaey indigenous group while De Jesus is the information and networking officer of the Philippine Task Force on Indigenous Peoples Rights.
Meanwhile, Eastern Visayas police chief Brig. Gen. Vincent Calanoga said the PNP “will not tolerate any form of misconduct” within its ranks as he assured a fair investigation into an incident in Pastrana on Friday involving two cops and three local journalists.
Leyte Police Provincial Office officer-in-charge Lt. Col. Ricky Reli on Saturday announced the relief from their posts of the two cops—Rhea May Baleos and her husband, Ver Baleos who is assigned in Pastrana.
The National Union of Journalists said three reporters from San Juanico TV—Lito Bagunas, Noel Sianosa, and Ted Tomas—were interviewing farmer-beneficiaries of a land reform program in Pastrana when Baleos, in plainclothes, told them to leave the area.
“Baleos reportedly grabbed Sianosa’s cellphone while the latter was taking videos, and pushed him away. A few minutes later, the three journalists heard gunshots,” the NUJP said.
Calanoga urged witnesses to come forward and shed light on the incident for a swift and fair result of the investigation.
“We are dedicated to resolving this matter promptly. We will not tolerate any form of misconduct within our ranks,” Calanoga said.