By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — A police operation in Bulacan that resulted in the apprehension of the wrong individual has prompted the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3) to remove the officers involved from their posts and initiate separate administrative and criminal proceedings against them.
Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez, director of PRO-3, said the incident unfolded Thursday in Baliwag City during a follow-up operation connected to a complaint being investigated by local authorities.
Police later determined that the man confronted by the operatives was not the individual identified in the case information. Upon discovering the error, the team immediately stopped the operation and left the area.
Mendez said the incident underscores the importance of careful intelligence validation and strict adherence to police operational standards, stressing that every law enforcement action must be carried out with respect for individual rights and established procedures.
To establish accountability, the regional police leadership has ordered a thorough fact-finding inquiry to determine whether the officers complied with existing operational protocols and whether disciplinary measures should be imposed.
The policemen involved have been reassigned to the regional holding unit pending the outcome of the investigation. Their issued firearms were also taken into safekeeping as part of standard administrative measures.
Authorities have likewise initiated criminal and administrative complaints against the personnel concerned.
Although cases involving mistaken identity can occur during police work, Mendez said such incidents must never be treated lightly, emphasizing that professionalism, discipline, and observance of due process remain fundamental responsibilities of every police officer.
He assured the public that the organization would deal with the matter transparently and ensure that those found accountable would face the appropriate sanctions.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the chief of the San Rafael Municipal Police Station was also removed from his position under the principle of command responsibility.
Nartatez said the operation reflected deficiencies in pre-operational verification, noting that officers should have thoroughly confirmed the identity of their intended subject before carrying out the mission.
He added that not only the operating team but also their immediate supervisors would answer for any failure to enforce proper police procedures, with both administrative and criminal cases now being pursued.
The investigation remains ongoing as the PNP reviews the circumstances surrounding the operation and considers additional safeguards aimed at preventing similar incidents in future law enforcement activities.
ia/xf
