Cops under fire for failing to thoroughly probe assault on Navarro
Actor and TV host Vhong Navarro relates his ordeal during an interview Sunday by ABS-CBN at his hospital bed. SCREENGRAB FROM ABS-CBN INTERVIEW
MANILA, Philippines — Don’t look at us.
A senior official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) chided comedian and TV host Ferdinand “Vhong” Navarro, on Monday, for his failure to file a complaint against the group of men who allegedly mauled him.
Senior Supt. Roberto Fajardo, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR), said it was “unfair” that the police were blamed for not being able to investigate the assault on Navarro immediately.
“Nung sila nagpapasarap, sila lang. Nung may problema na, pulis na ang may kasalanan (They enjoyed while they were doing it. But when a problem cropped up, it is now the fault of the police),” Fajardo lamented in a news briefing at Camp Crame.
“It’s very unfair… They have been granting interviews and talking about this incident in the media. But none of them have filed a complaint,” he added.
Some netizens had blamed personnel of the Southern Police District (SPD) who saw Navarro when a group of men brought the actor to the police headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City to report Navarro’s alleged attempt to rape Deniece Cornejo.
Nonetheless, Fajardo said the CIDG-NCR would help Navarro and Cornejo in investigating the incident since both were claiming to be the victim in the case.
He, however, said Navarro and Cornejo should first lodge their formal complaints with the police.
“We need a complainant. Even if we file a case, it will not prosper in the court without a complainant. We are very willing to assist them,” Fajardo said.
Deputy Director General Felipe Rojas, PNP deputy chief for administration, said the Taguig police office has started its probe into the case to determine if the policemen who wrote the blotter report failed to comply with the police operational procedure.
“If there’s evidence that they violated police procedures, we will initiate appropriate actions against them,” Rojas said.
Asked about the PNP’s procedures in receiving complaint against arrested individuals, he said the policemen who saw Navarro’s condition should have brought him to the hospital after they received the complaint.
“He should have been taken to the hospital before he was subjected to further investigation. The most important thing is for the police to save lives whether he is a suspect or a victim,” Rojas said.
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