PNP chief Purisima scores cops for mishandling Navarro case
CORNEJO, NAVARRO, LEE
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine National Police chief himself, Director General Alan Purisima, slammed on Wednesday the police officers who were relieved from their posts for mishandling the rape and mauling case involving actor-host Vhong Navarro, businessman Cedric Lee and model Deniece Cornejo.
In a press briefing, Purisima criticized the Southern Police District officers under the District Investigation and Detective Management for failing to conduct a medico-legal examination on a badly bruised Navarro when he was brought to the police station.
“I am not in favor of that. Kung ikaw, isang police, nakita mo na bugbog-sarado ang nasa harapan mo, hindi mo pa ba ipapa-medical ‘yon? (I am not in favor of that. If you were a policeman and you see that the person you are attending to is severely beaten up, would you not subject him under medical examination?)” said Purisima.
In previous reports, the now relieved SPD police officers denied that they committed administrative lapses, arguing that they repeatedly asked Navarro if he wanted to file a complaint against Lee and Cornejo and even offered to bring him to the hospital for treatment.
Purisima also disputed the findings of PNP DIDM, which claimed that “no major blunder was committed by the concerned police officers in handling the incident.”
“Hindi ba nila nakita na under duress ‘yong tao? (Did they not see that he was under duress?)” he said.
Purisima further explained the rationale behind the issuance of a directive prohibiting staff offices performing administrative functions from receiving blotter reports and complaints.
“We decided that the blotters should remain with the units (police stations). They (admin officers) do not have the capability to act. Baka nga hindi pa nila alam kung paano mag-fill up ng blotter (They might not even know how to fill up blotter logbooks.)” said the slightly irked PNP high official.
Once a complainant brings the offender to a police station, Purisima said that the police should take control over them and must be automatically in command.
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