The chief of intelligence of the Calbayog City police in Northern Samar “acted on his own” when he requested a local court to furnish him the identities of lawyers who serve as legal counsels of individuals and groups identified with the communist rebel movement.
At a news briefing on Monday, Philippine National Police (PNP) Officer-in-Charge Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Lt. Fernando Calabria’s action in seeking out the names of lawyers representing personalities and groups identified with the Left was done at “his own initiative,” contrary to Calabria’s claim, as stated in his letter to the court, that he was merely following orders from higher headquarters.
“Based on the initial investigation by the regional [police] director, it was his own initiative…to get information and for him to have an extensive situationer report on [the] insurgency in the area,” Eleazar said.
The officer in charge of the PNP relieved Calabria of his post on Saturday and was replaced by Maj. Ruel Burlat, as the PNP moved to restore public confidence in the police in Calbayog City on the heels of a recent “gunfight” between a group of policeman and a convoy of the late Mayor Ronald Aquino.
Aquino died during the incident along with five others, three of them policemen.
Earlier, Eleazar said the pressure for Calabria to present a comprehensive report of the insurgency in Calbayog City may have forced him to commit a serious policy breach.
Calabria’s action drew criticisms from various groups and individuals, including members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
The officer in charge of the PNP ordered the dissemination of intelligence guidelines and other security protocols to all police stations around the country.
Calabria’s “misstep” and the gunfight killed prompted Eleazar to also order for the relief of Lt. Col. Neil Montaño as the chief of police of Calbayog City and replaced him with Lt. Col. Rodolfo Albotra.
The relief of the former chief of police and his intelligence chief were both approved by PNP chief Debold Sinas, who went on quarantine beginning on Thursday due to Covid-19 infection.