MANILA – The Philippine National Police - Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) has recommended the demotion of seven police officers for serving an arrest warrant and search warrant at the wrong house in Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay.
In an interview Wednesday, IAS inspector general Brigido Dulay said the officers – a police lieutenant colonel, three corporals, and three patrolmen – were found guilty of conduct unbecoming of a police officer, an administrative offense.
He said the case stemmed from the complaint of the house owner when the police entered his house and conducted the operation in September 2023.
Dulay, however, said the warrants obtained by the police officers were valid.
"Yung mga pulis, mali yung pinasukan nilang bahay. Yung pag-serve natin ng warrant ay dapat pag-ingatan sapagkat ang (The police entered the wrong house. We must be cautious in serving the warrant because an) arrest warrant or search warrant is an extraordinary instrument that goes into the rights of the private individual," he said.
The erring police officers will get a one-rank demotion, he added.
Dulay said they have forwarded their recommendation to the office of PNP Chief, Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.
“Let this serve as a reminder to our policemen to be more judicious and circumspect when implementing arrest or search warrants to ensure that the constitutional and civil rights of innocent private citizens are not violated,” he added. (PNA)
