ILOILO City – The commander of the Police Regional Office 6’s (PRO-6) Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) was relieved from his post.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Leo Batiles faces investigation over the vehicular accident in Barangay Ginomoy, Alimodian, Iloilo on Saturday afternoon.
RMFB is temporarily headed by Police Lieutenant John Lemuel Villafranca, Batiles’ deputy.
PRO-6 director Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan cited “command responsibility” for relieving Batiles.
“We need an investigation para alam natin ang lapses. May nakita akong mali sa kanila. Kahit may namatay at may nasugatan, we need to this,” said Pamuspusan.
A truck transporting RMFB policemen fell into a ravine in Barangay Ginomoy, Alimodian. Four policemen died while over 20 others were injured. The truck was owned by the local government unit of Alimodian. It was taking the policemen back to their camp from an offensive operation.
“The investigation is from the battalion commander down to the company commander. They should look after the welfare of their men. They should have used dalawang sasakyan para hindi sila crowded sa truck,” said Pamuspusan.
He also wondered why the battalion did not use police 6×6 trucks.
“Kasi we have to anticipate possible incidents like i-ambush sila or may landmine or vehicular accident. Or dapat naglakad na lang sila kasi malapit lang ang kanilang headquarters. Ito hindi na plano properly,” Pamuspusan said.
The director said he already met the families of the casualties and also visited the injured in hospitals.
“I assured them of our support. I made sure their needs were being provided,” he said./PN
