By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral
Reporter

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on Wednesday said he wants an embattled police officer reinstated despite facing criminal raps over the killing of a city mayor allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade in central Philippines.

Police Superintendent Marvin Wynn Marcos was charged with homicide, since downgraded from murder, in connection with the Nov. 5, 2016 raid conducted by members of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Region 8.

The operation, headed by Mr. Marcos, led to the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando R. Espinosa, Sr. and inmate Raul Yap at the sub-provincial jail in Baybay, Leyte. In December that year, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) qualified the incident as a “rubout.”

In his speech before cops during the 26th anniversary of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Mr. Duterte said he wants Mr. Marcos’s job back because he believes the police officer “was not part of the raiding team.”

“Sabi ko, ‘Ibalik ninyo sa trabaho ’yang mama na ’yan. Wala naman doon ’yan eh (I said, ‘bring Marcos’s job back. He was not there’). He was too far away here. He was not part of the raiding team,’” Mr. Duterte said.

“I will never, never allow a military man, a government man, a policeman na makukulong (to be jailed) for doing his duty and obeying my order,” he added.

Last December, Mr. Duterte admitted he ordered Philippine National Police (PNP) Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa to reinstate Mr. Marcos because he is “doing an investigative job.”

The President added that he will not “sacrifice” the policemen involved in the killing of Mr. Espinosa, but maintained he will not “obstruct” the case.

Mr. Marcos’s charges were lowered by the Office of the Justice Secretary last month to homicide from the previous non-bailable offense of murder because “the evidence on record do not support the allegation of evident premeditation.”

The PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) earlier recommended in its report the suspension of Mr. Marcos and the other policemen involved.

In a chance interview yesterday, Mr. Dela Rosa said he is in favor of Mr. Marcos’s return in service.

“Yes, sayang ’yun kung walang ginagawa, ’di ba? Sumusuweldo, walang ginagawa. E di pagtrabahuhin natin (Yes, it would be a waste if he would not work but still be paid. So let’s make him work again),” Mr. Dela Rosa said.

“Basta (Anyway), as far as the administrative case is concerned, that was already resolved. May resolution na favorably sa kanila (There’s a resolution favorable to them),” he added.

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