The Philippine National Police (PNP) will reopen investigations into the Duterte administration’s high-profile unsolved cases, including those of former Daanbantayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot and two PDEA agents, vowing “not to not have sacred cows” in their quest for justice.

In a swift response, Loot and the family of PDEA Agent Earl Rallos are demanding true accountability and justice even as they question police handling of the investigation.

PNP Chief General Rommel Marbil ordered the reopening of the investigation into several unresolved cases, particularly those mentioned during congressional hearings in the investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings (EJK) under the former administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Marbil and Ministry of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla promised there would be no “sacred cows” in the investigation, especially amid the alleged involvement of some officials of police and officers in the alleged EJKs in connection with the former administration’s bloody war on drugs.

During a press conference on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group was tasked with leading the reopening of investigations into unsolved cases, which included the ambush of retired police general Loot and the killing of two police officers. the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), which all happened in 2018.

“Maybe a series of meetings will begin to propose investigative efforts, to really propose a credible and transparent investigation… all of these cases mentioned and specified in the Senate and Congressional hearings,” she said .

“Lahat po ito ai iniimbestigahan po ng PNP as I said, with instructions to mine the PNP database on these unsolved cases, especially their mention during the hearing,” she added .

Fajardo said criminal cases are considered “cold” if there are no developments in its investigation within six months of their occurrence.

True justice

The Loot ambush and murder of PDEA agents Earl Rallos and Von Rian Tecson all took place in 2018.

Reacting to Marbil’s order, Loot said: “If this is an honest investigation by the PNP, and not the Moro-Moro investigation that they carried out during those painful years of the ‘EJK, then it won’t take them long to solve not only my problem. cases, but the remainder of all unsolved cases in the region.

Loot said even he and his family overcame the incident, but he wants those responsible to be held accountable.

“Their actions should therefore not be imitated by those who do anything in the name of power, money, promotion and position,” Loot added.

Earl Jane Rallos, daughter of PDEA Agent Rallos, said the reopening of investigations by the PNP is just a facade.

“If they really wanted to investigate these cases, they would not go unanswered. Ordinary citizens should be able to count on their protection in their pursuit of justice,” Jane said.

“The PNP cannot be trusted, especially since it has always been involved in the brutal war on drugs. It feels like a never-ending goose chase: so much has happened, but nothing has been resolved,” she added.

“We stand in solidarity with all the grieving families affected by this violence. It’s time to demand real accountability and justice,” Jane added.

As the House Quadruple Committee’s investigation into the possible nexus between the proliferation of illegal Pogo operations, illegal drug trade, abnormal land acquisitions and extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration continues, Col. retired Royina Garma, who served as Cebu City Police Office. leader from January 2017 to June 2019, expressed his belief that the Loot ambush and the killing of two PDEA agents were both linked to the war on drugs since they were all on Duterte’s anti-drug watch list.

Loot survived the New Maya harbor ambush in May 2018, but four of his companions were injured.

Duterte previously called Loot a drug protector in northern Cebu, making the former mayor a target of the EJK.

Duterte later admitted to ordering the Loot ambush, emphasizing that he was the protector of an illegal drug syndicate in the region.

PDEA Agent Earl Rallos, Cebu Deputy Operations Officer, was shot dead at Villalon Street in Cebu City on July 27, 2018.

Nearly two weeks later, Von Rian Tecson, also a PDEA member from Cebu, was shot dead in Carcar City. /with JJL and CDF