By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has nullified the order relieving Col. Elmer Ragay, chief of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), pending investigation into the case of an abducted 14-year-old Chinese student.
In an order issued on March 3, PNP Office of the Chief of Directorial Staff officer-in-charge Maj. Gen. Constancio Chinayog Jr. nullified an order dated Feb. 28 “by command” of PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo cited Section 9, Rule IV of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) Resolution No. 11059, which prohibits transfer or detail of police personnel during the election period.
“There was a misappreciation. Sa mata po ng (For) DPRM (Directorate for Personnel and Records Management), the issuance of relief on February 28 does not require a prior clearance or approval of the Comelec dahil (because) it does not involve movement or transfer of any PNP personnel,” Fajardo said in a press briefing held at Camp Crame on Tuesday.
She clarified that Ragay was not removed from AKG, but was only administratively relieved pending investigation of the Chinese student’s abduction case.
“Upon consultation nga po sa Comelec is ‘yong pagkaka- (with the Comelec, the) administrative relieve of Col. Elmer Ragay is within doon sa (the) provisions of Comelec Resolution 11059, hence the issuance of nullification order,” Fajardo said.
Fajardo said Ragay’s reinstatement will not affect the investigation, as another PNP unit is conducting the probe, which she said would be carried out with transparency.
“Tuloy pa rin po ‘yong investigation because we have to make it clear na ‘yong investigation po (Investigation will continue because we have to make it clear that the investigation) does not only involve Col. Ragay. This involves the whole operation was initiated by the AKG,” she said.
Fajardo said the PNP supports Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s earlier statement that no ransom was paid to secure the victim’s freedom.
She denied a newspaper report that a confidential source said the AKG “fetched” the Chinese student from a private residence in Parañaque City and that a USD1 million ransom was paid by an unnamed businessman supposedly tied to the victim’s family.
“We will stand by the statement made by our SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government) that it was a rescue operation, and no ransom was paid. That word of our SILG will suffice to be a lie to all these rumors,” Fajardo told reporters when sought for a comment.
Fajardo assured an investigation into the alleged anomalies of the case is underway, with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) handling the probe. (PNA)
