Manila, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief PGen. Debold Sinas has assured that the national police will have proper coordination with the University of the Philippines (UP) management with regard to conducting operations inside the campus.

Sinas said despite the abrogation of the UP-Department of National Defense (DND) accord, there is still an existing similar agreement between the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) and UP.

The PNP chief added they will provide courtesy to the UP Administration before entering the campus. Sinas said the national police aim to maintain peace and order inside the campus.

“Hindi po kami makikialam sa management ng school. Hindi kami makikialam kung sino instructor nila, sino estudyante nila. Di po kami makikialam. Ang samin lang is for the maintenance of prevailing peace and order of the campus (We won’t interfere with the school management. We won’t interfere on who are the instructors or students. We aim for the maintenance of prevailing peace and order of the campus),” Sinas said.

He added that the PNP will wait for the decision of DILG Secretary Eduardo Año if there will be changes in the policies in conducting operations inside UP Campus. -AAC (with reports from Lea Ylagan)

MANILA, Philippines — The Makati City Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday started its preliminary investigation into the complaint lodged against 11 individuals over the death of flight attendant Christine Dacera.

The respondents are facing a complaint for rape with homicide. They were identified as among the individuals who were with Dacera hours before she died on January 1, following a night of partying with friends.

In a press statement, the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office said 7 out of 11 respondents and their legal counsels attended Wednesday’s hearing.

Five of them submitted their counter-affidavit.

The office also said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has submitted a supplemental complaint but manifested that it is still awaiting results of the DNA analysis, histopath examination, and laboratory results from Makati Medical Center

“Hence, they moved for the resetting of the preliminary investigation,” it said.

Dacera was found in the bathtub of a hotel room in Makati where she attended a party with some friends on December 31, 2020.

Three of the respondents were detained by police but was ordered released by the City Prosecutor’s Office after it referred the case for further investigation to allow both the complainant and the respondents to submit more evidence.

The next hearing is scheduled on January 27.

MANILA, Philippines — The drug enforcement chief of Zamboanga City Police Office has been relieved from his post after testing positive for narcotics.

PNP Chief Police General Debold Sinas in a statement said that Police Major Jivertson Pelovello has been reassigned to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Section of Police Regional Office 9 while undergoing pre-charge investigation and summary dismissal proceedings.

Western Mindanao PNP Regional Director, Police Brigadier General Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan reported that Pelovello has been disarmed of his issued firearms and slapped with corresponding administrative charges.

The PNP Chief reiterated that members of the national police who are using illegal drugs do not deserve to stay in service and should immediately be dismissed.

Pelovello is among the 60 police personnel in Zamboanga City that tested positive for illegal drugs.